tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131600517595523642018-08-14T18:08:12.696+01:00The Queen of Teen FictionCrowning the best books in all the land since 2011.KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.comBlogger396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-59736555890457844982018-07-31T18:52:00.000+01:002018-07-31T18:53:56.980+01:00Rereading Harry Potter as an Adult<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> 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Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Mention"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Smart Hyperlink"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Hashtag"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Unresolved Mention"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; text-autospace:ideograph-other; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans"; mso-font-kerning:1.5pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language:HI;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tRqyh7rVmf4/W2CT3qPd7gI/AAAAAAAAEEo/JlD7TU4XNYExuC3irDZgpV9VhM10rQJ_gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tRqyh7rVmf4/W2CT3qPd7gI/AAAAAAAAEEo/JlD7TU4XNYExuC3irDZgpV9VhM10rQJ_gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0567.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">On July 21<sup>st</sup> 2007, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i> was finally released, my eager hands grabbing a copy as soon as I could. On July 23<sup>rd</sup>, I'd finished it. Like many others, I'd barely slept for two days whilst devouring every chapter. My fifteen-year-old self cried her eyes out and put the book down. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I never picked it up again.</b>Despite Harry Potter being such a huge part of my life, I've never reread the books. I'm not really sure why, and it doesn't mean I love them any less. </span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">Before <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Deathly Hallows</i> was released, I'd reread the previous books several times. I've just never been one for rereading a series' after it's actually finished. Standalone books? Sure, I'll pick them up again. But a series of books I've dedicated years of my life to, given so much of my time, money, and tears to? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I put them down and I move on.</b></span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">It's strange, when I think about. Looking back to some of my all-time favourite series', <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">they've each changed a little part of my life</b>, all of them shaping me in some way, changing what I look for in a story, what I expect. I love the characters, the plot twists, the moments that made me laugh and cry, but they're memories that I think back to rather than read again. Maybe it's because I've spent so long inside those worlds? Maybe once I've finally got that perfect ending, I feel like I don't need to go back to it. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The characters that I've spent so long with are happy</b> (most of the time), they're free and, as a reader, so am I. Usually, I’m content with putting them on my shelves and keeping them as happy memories without diving back in.</span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ax8V-r3nc2Y/W2CUC21X71I/AAAAAAAAEEs/_1KQBW4jAf4PofnDlyN_8jR-jLMik6sEQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ax8V-r3nc2Y/W2CUC21X71I/AAAAAAAAEEs/_1KQBW4jAf4PofnDlyN_8jR-jLMik6sEQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_3665.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first ever copy of the book! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">Things have changed over the past year, though. Anyone who checks this blog even occasionally can see how little I've been posting compared to a couple of years ago. I've been pretty open on Twitter, and <a href="http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2017/11/the-slump.html" target="_blank">a little on this blog</a>, about how much more I've struggled with my mental health, leaving me feeling drained and barely motivated to even read, let alone write posts. For the first time in a very long time, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">books haven't been a priority for me</b>. I haven't been able to use them as my escape for a while, and it's really sucked. </span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">At the end of last year, I realised that I was putting too much pressure on myself as a blogger. As much as I try to avoid doing it, I can't help trying to keep up with the latest reads, forcing myself to finish certain books quickly so that I can post about them because everyone else has. It wasn't good for me, and reading started becoming more like a chore than an enjoyment, and I never wanted that to happen. Whilst so far this year, I've been able to get my reading back on track a little, I'm still not where I was a few years ago, and I'd quite like to be back there. So, to find my Reading Mojo</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc">™</span> again, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I've decided to go back to the story that first made me fall in love with reading</b>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3DTRp1fJVCM/W2CZpu-Kz4I/AAAAAAAAEFs/SfLCmYwuLSovVOz65WbPd7Hg0o-OsTDcwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6041%2B%2528Edited%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3DTRp1fJVCM/W2CZpu-Kz4I/AAAAAAAAEFs/SfLCmYwuLSovVOz65WbPd7Hg0o-OsTDcwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_6041%2B%2528Edited%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogwarts is like my second home</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">When I say that Harry Potter played a big part in my life, I mean it <i>really</i> did. So many people in my generation say this, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I literally wouldn't be the person I am today without those seven books</b>. When I was younger, books did not interest me one bit. My idea of hell was the one hour reading class in school when us students would have to pick out a book and read in silence. Back then, bored out of my mind, I had no idea that my entire being would revolve around books in the future. Until the day that my mum practically forced a copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Philospher's Stone</i> into my hands, books just weren't my thing. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But discovering Harry Potter opened my eyes to a whole new, literary world</b>.</span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB"></span><br /><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BV0Yu-ZFPIU/" data-instgrm-version="9" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 640px; min-width: 426px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 33.24074074074074% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BV0Yu-ZFPIU/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Happy 20th birthday to the book that changed my life for the better! ✨⚡️✨ #harrypotter20 #harrypotter #harrypotterandthephilosophersstone #books #bookstagram #instabooks #bookblogger #booknerd #bookgeek #bookish #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #reading #literature #bookaddict</a></span></div><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span lang="EN-GB">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katiebookqueen/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" target="_blank"> Katie Brown</a> (@katiebookqueen) on <time datetime="2017-06-26T21:52:09+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 26, 2017 at 2:52pm PDT</time></span></div></div></blockquote><span lang="EN-GB"><script async="" defer="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script> </span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">It was Harry Potter that made me fall in love with books, with fantasy, with reading any exciting story I could get my hands on. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I have these books to thank for the me I am today</b>, and for every little thing I’ve achieved within the world of bookish things, including this blog. Since I was a very different person when I first picked up Harry Potter, I want to see what I take away from these books as an adult, how my feelings for certain characters have changed, and what I appreciate more now than I did when I was younger. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I want to see how my general love for the series has changed over all these years</b>.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VIYT_aHeAOw/W2CUmhEmJ7I/AAAAAAAAEE4/aCS14rhystEncECml5mndjiWuZCvtambwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VIYT_aHeAOw/W2CUmhEmJ7I/AAAAAAAAEE4/aCS14rhystEncECml5mndjiWuZCvtambwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_3649.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Harry Funko. I swear I didn't break one arm of his glasses on the day that I got him.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB">So, whilst I delve back into the wizarding world, I’m going to be publishing a series of Harry-related blog posts to document my reread. It feels like the perfect way to not only get me back into reading, but to also get me writing blog posts again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="Standard"><br /></div><div class="Standard"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Here’s to my first ever, full reread of Harry Potter!</span></b></div><div class="Standard"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiuIZOUAclE/W2CWZKr9DUI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/mu7gQKEY-EYgJ054WLbU9opVSs5IBSAMQCLcBGAs/s1600/hpff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="558" height="275" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jiuIZOUAclE/W2CWZKr9DUI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/mu7gQKEY-EYgJ054WLbU9opVSs5IBSAMQCLcBGAs/s400/hpff.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="Standard"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></div><div class="Standard"><!--[if gte mso 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Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Smart Hyperlink"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Hashtag"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Unresolved Mention"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-hyphenate:none; text-autospace:ideograph-other; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-family:"Lucida Sans"; mso-font-kerning:1.5pt; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language:HI;} </style><![endif]--> </div><div class="Standard" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">How many times have you reread your favourite series, or what do you want to reread in the future? Let me know! </span></b></span></div><br /><span lang="EN-GB"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_k/VHXM_z1pmlovbwZX7IoAElWpc2Ar59BoQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="110" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_k/VHXM_z1pmlovbwZX7IoAElWpc2Ar59BoQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" /></a></div><br />KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-75474191928336237232018-07-13T06:00:00.000+01:002018-07-13T06:00:01.021+01:00BLOG TOUR: Review of 'Access All Awkward' by Beth Garrod<b>Hey there, my fellow book nerds. Today I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour for Bella Fisher's latest adventure in <i>Access All Awkward</i> by Beth Garrod. My thoughts on this hilarious book are below!</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQOaY50WxQY/W0fK9081KII/AAAAAAAAEEQ/TZlRAFRRuC4RGz7tXEprw6ieTJaDqRqGgCLcBGAs/s1600/9781407186825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQOaY50WxQY/W0fK9081KII/AAAAAAAAEEQ/TZlRAFRRuC4RGz7tXEprw6ieTJaDqRqGgCLcBGAs/s320/9781407186825.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><b>Pages:</b> 450<br /><b>Format:</b> Paperback<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic<br /><b>Genre:</b> Humor, Contemporary<br /><b>Release Date:</b> July 3rd 2018<br /><b>Buy The Book: </b><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Access-All-Awkward-Beth-Garrod/9781407186825/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> - <a href="https://agreatread.co.uk/access-all-awkward-9781407186825/?aff=4" target="_blank">A Great Read</a><br /><br /><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">Bella Fisher is stuck in EXAM HELL - with only the promise of a weekend at the RebelRocks festival with her mates as a reward afterwards. OK, so she can't actually afford a ticket and will have to work as a litter picker and toilet scrubber, but it's still going to be epic: the best bands, her best friends and best-boy-in-the-world Adam, with not a parent or teacher in sight. But when she arrives to find annoying older sister Jo has been sent by Mum to keep an eye on her, things go from bad to worse. BFF Rachel is hanging out with some mean girls, awful ex-boyfriend Luke pitches up with his model girlfriend and her pristine Hunter wellies, and the drummer in her favourite band is exposed as a sexist pig. All the face glitter and flower crowns in the world can't save the day... can they? </blockquote><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4I-RyM5nTI/WwGFN0UEmMI/AAAAAAAAEDA/PiTaHrBx68IXpl2GiT3OFSe7BBXggWt_wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/The%2BPlot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="316" height="79" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4I-RyM5nTI/WwGFN0UEmMI/AAAAAAAAEDA/PiTaHrBx68IXpl2GiT3OFSe7BBXggWt_wCPcBGAYYCw/s200/The%2BPlot.png" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In Bella's latest adventure, she's stressing over her exams before spending some of her summer working at the RebelRocks music festival in her town. During the festival, Bella and her friends find themselves with even more work to do. They want the world's hottest new boyband, <b>The Session</b>, to apologise for treating their fans, and women in general, like dirt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjN0UuxlnEE/WwGFNn_pvXI/AAAAAAAAEDE/YjlXtA5qnkIc7kJTWtQSahNr1nFs1QyoACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/The%2BCharacters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="531" height="73" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjN0UuxlnEE/WwGFNn_pvXI/AAAAAAAAEDE/YjlXtA5qnkIc7kJTWtQSahNr1nFs1QyoACPcBGAYYCw/s320/The%2BCharacters.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The love I have in my heart for these characters is unreal. <b>Bella is utterly hilarious</b> and her narration of the story had me laughing so much. The situations she finds herself in! It's impossible not to love her and her group of friends. Their friendship is always such a central plot within this series and it's focused heavily upon in this book too. <b>I adore Rach and Teegan as much as I adore Bella.</b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Bella's family are once again amazing in this third book. Their group chat is definitely a highlight in the story. What's especially great about them is that they always work through things together and stand by one and other. It makes for some lovely, heart-warming scenes.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_hvrgEuTMU/WwGFNqZiI2I/AAAAAAAAEDE/9aRYQd27104N6FdSJMBftTWzMN1NQSdiACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Reasons%2BTo%2BLove.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="571" height="71" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_hvrgEuTMU/WwGFNqZiI2I/AAAAAAAAEDE/9aRYQd27104N6FdSJMBftTWzMN1NQSdiACPcBGAYYCw/s320/Reasons%2BTo%2BLove.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><ul><li><b>REALISTIC TEENAGE CHARACTERS.</b> I never like it when YA characters come across as older than they should be, unless there's a specific plot which revolves around them having to be maturer from a young age. So I adore the fact that Beth writes her teen characters in such a perfect way. Yes, there's a lot of caps lock, and yes the characters shorten or, in Bella's case, join words, and yes they use plenty of references. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YA CHARACTERS SHOULD DO. It makes them so much more authentic that way. </li></ul><ul><li><b>HEALTHY ROMANCE.</b> I can't write this review without giving a shoutout to the way relationships are handled in this series. Yay for healthy relationships in YA that are positive and in which the characters deal with their problems in a good way! There were so many moments between Bella and Adam that made me want to hug this book. </li></ul><ul><li><b>ONE LINERS THAT MAKE YOU HOWL.</b> There are lots of lines I want to put in this review but won't because A) this is a spoiler-free zone and B) you absolutely have to read them for yourself. There were just so many little things that had me in tears.&nbsp;</li></ul><br /><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXlwn0rLzWg/WwGFNuPpueI/AAAAAAAAEC8/wPAoQqP50Vkeg0rfVnI7rP_DJQALEsvvgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Overall%2BThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="613" height="76" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXlwn0rLzWg/WwGFNuPpueI/AAAAAAAAEC8/wPAoQqP50Vkeg0rfVnI7rP_DJQALEsvvgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Overall%2BThoughts.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I don't want to say too much plot-wise, but I just need to say that I couldn't be more happy with the very ending of the story. Because it's not what I expected to happen, but is exactly what I was hoping for. Again, it goes to show how much it pays off to be realistic in YA stories, especially contemporary ones. Despite the humorous nature of this book, it deals with some very real issues that we have in our society in general, and it also deals with problems that young people who are taking exams and worrying about the future have to face It demonstrates that it doesn't matter if things don't happen as you planned, you can still make things work. And this book manages to do all of that as well as being perfectly hilarious. I couldn't ask for more in a YA story.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpZbB2qJHw8/WwGGOAAxALI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/TbtcnZVt-I8dc56xsOfmDvBV7osQZ1SGwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/5%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="534" height="104" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpZbB2qJHw8/WwGGOAAxALI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/TbtcnZVt-I8dc56xsOfmDvBV7osQZ1SGwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/5%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Be sure to check out the other fantastic bloggers taking part in the tour:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCiC9_Ql2Yo/W0fMl7-E42I/AAAAAAAAEEc/D7VVNrA6EVIXny-mxouSRK2mxjiYFU8FwCLcBGAs/s1600/AAA%2Bblog%2Btour%2Bbanner%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1600" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCiC9_Ql2Yo/W0fMl7-E42I/AAAAAAAAEEc/D7VVNrA6EVIXny-mxouSRK2mxjiYFU8FwCLcBGAs/s640/AAA%2Bblog%2Btour%2Bbanner%2B.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><br /><br />KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-75879358690621929462018-06-13T18:56:00.000+01:002018-06-13T19:16:15.982+01:00I'M CHOPPING MY HAIR<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">For once, I'm publishing a post that isn't about books! Shocking, I know. Me, not talking about books every second of every day? A rare occurrence only witnessed every thirteen years on a full moon during a time of<span class="st">—</span>ANYWAY, today I want to write about A Thing<span class="ILfuVd yZ8quc">™</span> that I'm doing, and I'd be super grateful if you could give it a read anyway.&nbsp;</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9-zzfcfjko/Wx_ydXqET_I/AAAAAAAAEDo/1bBgjX2t_CIQdgF8qPTsfwZ1yccWSCqtgCLcBGAs/s1600/Chop%2Bfor%2BCharity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h9-zzfcfjko/Wx_ydXqET_I/AAAAAAAAEDo/1bBgjX2t_CIQdgF8qPTsfwZ1yccWSCqtgCLcBGAs/s640/Chop%2Bfor%2BCharity.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>My hair has always been my pride and joy.</b> For a long time, it's been the only part of how I look that I've gained any confidence from because it was always something that I was happy with. It's also always been long. From the moment I was old enough to start making my own decisions about my hair, I've grown it. My idea of a trip to the hairdressers would be getting the slightest trim which would leave my Mum asking the same question every time I'd come home: <b>“Did you even get a haircut???” </b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A couple of years ago, I finally grew tired of the constant <strike>terrible</strike> dye jobs I was doing on my hair and decided to embrace my natural colour again. To do that, I had to grow it out so that I could fully get rid of the colours, especially the red, that I'd been throwing on it for literal years. So now I have my natural hair back and it's probably the longest I've had it before. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Erqi3OFncQ/Wx_7jEkhYBI/AAAAAAAAED4/kUcPBLMFb2cHfTvBrXbl8NrNIGShaRzlwCLcBGAs/s1600/Hair.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="1159" height="206" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Erqi3OFncQ/Wx_7jEkhYBI/AAAAAAAAED4/kUcPBLMFb2cHfTvBrXbl8NrNIGShaRzlwCLcBGAs/s640/Hair.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long hair has been my 'look' for, well, a really long time! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So before making my usual appointment for a trim last year, I stopped and actually thought about the length of my hair for once.<b> </b>Would it really matter if it wasn't as long?<b> I'm so lucky that I get to grow my hair</b>, have a trim, then a few months later be back at the length I started. I'm so lucky that I get to put colour in my hair without a second thought because even if it goes terribly wrong and I end up looking like a little bit of an idiot for a while, it'll still grow out. There are so many children who can't grow their hair, so many young adults who can't experiment with different styles and not think twice about it. <b>There are too many people who have to lose their hair in the cruelest ways</b>. My hair is just a thing to me and I might love it a lot, but it could mean the world to someone else.&nbsp; </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">From that point on, I continued growing my hair with the intention of making it something that someone else could be proud of. My hair is the one thing that helps me feel happy about the way I look, but now it's someone else's turn to feel that way. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bzHOCSGnAd4/Wx_7jJjCQzI/AAAAAAAAED0/cmn0idLQYJM9RRCkWkK1pQbM7ETLtuUkgCLcBGAs/s1600/Hair%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="828" height="419" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bzHOCSGnAd4/Wx_7jJjCQzI/AAAAAAAAED0/cmn0idLQYJM9RRCkWkK1pQbM7ETLtuUkgCLcBGAs/s640/Hair%2B2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long hair has always been my defining feature</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">My hair has recently reached my waist, and pretty soon it'll be ready to go to a new and deserving home. In August, <b>I'll be cutting and donating around 13 inches</b> to the <a href="http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/">Little Princess Trust</a> so it can be turned into a natural wig for children who need it far more than I do. In the meantime, I've set up a <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katie-brown92" target="_blank">JustGiving</a> page with the hopes of raising some money for this wonderful charity that helps to give young people the princess hair they deserve. <b>It costs on average between £350-£500 for a wig to be made, which will then be given to a child who needs it for free</b>. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Today is my birthday, and I couldn't ask for a better present than for people to help me raise money for a great charity. If you could contribute even just a little, or share the page so it reaches as many people as possible, I'd be so grateful.</div><b> </b> <br /><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Together we can help the Little Princess Trust bring a smile to young faces.</b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_k/VHXM_z1pmlovbwZX7IoAElWpc2Ar59BoQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="110" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_k/VHXM_z1pmlovbwZX7IoAElWpc2Ar59BoQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-22577412879781379372018-06-07T12:20:00.000+01:002018-06-07T12:25:56.141+01:00REVIEW: Noah Could Never by Simon James Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVNkutAMEn8/Wxhn07Sf4ZI/AAAAAAAAEDc/saa2tSFlORYXeQIsqQdN7D54eOsLySjuQCLcBGAs/s1600/38117293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVNkutAMEn8/Wxhn07Sf4ZI/AAAAAAAAEDc/saa2tSFlORYXeQIsqQdN7D54eOsLySjuQCLcBGAs/s320/38117293.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><span id="freeText2927812529597855134"><b>Pages:</b> 320</span><br /><span id="freeText2927812529597855134"><b>Format:</b> Paperback</span><br /><span id="freeText2927812529597855134"><b>Publisher: </b>Scholastic</span><br /><span id="freeText2927812529597855134"><b>Topics: </b>Humour, Teen Love</span><br /><span id="freeText2927812529597855134"><b>Release Date:</b> June 7th 2018</span><br /><span id="freeText2927812529597855134"><b>Buy The Book: </b><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/Noah-Could-Never-Simon-James-Green/9781407180021/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> </span><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText2927812529597855134">Noah and Harry are now officially boyfriends, but is Noah ready to go all the way? It's no help that a group of cosmopolitan French exchange students have descended on Little Fobbing - including sexy Pierre Victoire, who seems to have his eye on Harry! Meanwhile, Noah's paired up with a girl ... who, most outrageously, is not even French. But that's not all: the police are monitoring Noah, and he can't tell if it's because his dad and secret half-brother, Eric, have made off with his gran's fake diamonds; because his PE teacher is receiving mysterious cash infusions from Russia; or because drag queen Bambi Sugapops is hiding out at Noah's house in the midst of a knock-down, bare-knuckled drag feud. Will Noah ever catch a break?</span></blockquote><span id="freeText2927812529597855134"></span><br /><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Listen. You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this sequel. In case you didn't already know, I adore <i>Noah Can't Even</i>. I love it so much that I <a href="http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2017/05/review-noah-cant-even-by-simon-james.html" target="_blank">scream about it online</a> and <a href="http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/search?q=pride" target="_blank">recommend</a>it whenever I get the chance. You can officially consider me to be a <b>Noah Grimes Enthusiast</b>. So to say I was pretty damn excited for this book is a bit of an understatement. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4I-RyM5nTI/WwGFN0UEmMI/AAAAAAAAEDA/PiTaHrBx68IXpl2GiT3OFSe7BBXggWt_wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/The%2BPlot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="316" height="78" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4I-RyM5nTI/WwGFN0UEmMI/AAAAAAAAEDA/PiTaHrBx68IXpl2GiT3OFSe7BBXggWt_wCPcBGAYYCw/s200/The%2BPlot.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Noah Could Never</i>picks up a little while after the events of the first book. Noah and Harry are now officially a couple and all is going well, apart from Noah's constant self doubt, that is. Obviously, I'm not going to go into the plot too much because I really don't want to spoil any of the amazing and completely wild surprises that get thrown at the characters, so I'll keep my fangirling spoiler-free. Just know that I loved the plot very much and <b>it's just so FUN</b>. You literally cannot predict anything that is going to happen in this book. It's impossible. It's also a very difficult book to review because honestly all I want to do is ASDFGHJKL;<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/841aeb9f113999616d097b414c539dfd/tenor.gif?itemid=5368357" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/841aeb9f113999616d097b414c539dfd/tenor.gif?itemid=5368357" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">actually me trying to write this review</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />You probably don't need me to confirm for you that this book is as hilarious as the first one, maybe even more so. Honestly. I was almost in tears laughing just a few pages in. I CAN'T COPE WITH THE HUMOUR IN THESE BOOKS. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Things I have learned reading Noah Could Never:</b></div><ol><li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Try to avoid reading it surrounded by family who are going to question why you keep grinning down at the book in your lap like the biggest dork in the world.</div></li><li><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">READ WITH CAUTION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. I sincerely hope the poor commuters sitting across from me on the train didn't catch me fighting back the giggles. There are just certain scenes in this book that CANNOT be read in public. IT'S JUST TOO FUNNY FOR THAT, OKAY?</div></li></ol><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjN0UuxlnEE/WwGFNn_pvXI/AAAAAAAAEDE/YjlXtA5qnkIc7kJTWtQSahNr1nFs1QyoACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/The%2BCharacters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="531" height="75" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjN0UuxlnEE/WwGFNn_pvXI/AAAAAAAAEDE/YjlXtA5qnkIc7kJTWtQSahNr1nFs1QyoACPcBGAYYCw/s320/The%2BCharacters.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You also don't need me to reiterate how much I love Noah. I can't help but adore him, even when he's making huge mistakes which you know he's going to end up regretting. I didn't expect to relate to him, but the feelings of self doubt that he has really hit home more than I was ready for! He goes through a lot of moments when he feels like he doesn't deserve Harry, and believing he needs to be a better version of himself, trying various ways to change himself to what he thinks is deemed 'perfect'. Something that I really loved about this book is how, despite all of the laughs and wild situations, there were genuinely heartfelt moments between characters, and some very real issues were dealt with in a lighthearted way. <i>Noah Could Never</i> has a very cute message within its pages. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Whilst I'm talking about characters. <b>Bambi</b>. An incredible edition to this series. Just when you think this story couldn't get any better, we get introduced to the greatest drag queen Little Fobbing has ever seen, with perfect comedic timing and a wonderful catalogue of innuendos (though Pierre might just win the title of Best Innuendo Provider).&nbsp;</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_hvrgEuTMU/WwGFNqZiI2I/AAAAAAAAEDE/9aRYQd27104N6FdSJMBftTWzMN1NQSdiACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Reasons%2BTo%2BLove.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="571" height="71" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_hvrgEuTMU/WwGFNqZiI2I/AAAAAAAAEDE/9aRYQd27104N6FdSJMBftTWzMN1NQSdiACPcBGAYYCw/s320/Reasons%2BTo%2BLove.png" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li>Cutest characters you will ever meet. Honestly. How do people get through life without reading about Noah and Harry.</li></ul><ul><li>LITERALLY THE FUNNIEST. We all need a good, funny story every now and then. No matter what genre you usually read, it's always a good idea to pick up a book that's guaranteed to make you smile.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;">French exchange students because every good YA story needs French exchange students at some point. </span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;">Millie and the Dickheads. That's all I'm saying. </span></li></ul><span style="font-style: normal;"></span><br /><ul></ul><ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXlwn0rLzWg/WwGFNuPpueI/AAAAAAAAEC8/wPAoQqP50Vkeg0rfVnI7rP_DJQALEsvvgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Overall%2BThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="613" height="76" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pXlwn0rLzWg/WwGFNuPpueI/AAAAAAAAEC8/wPAoQqP50Vkeg0rfVnI7rP_DJQALEsvvgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Overall%2BThoughts.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Noah Could Never</i>is the perfect sequel. It really is. After all this waiting, it didn't disappoint. From a dodgy protein shake business to a road trip with a drag queen, this book throws so many unexpected yet utterly hilarious situations at the characters, and it's glorious. Hands down my favourite book of 2018 so far. If you haven't had a chance to read the first book, <i>Noah Can't Even</i>, but happen to be reading this review anyway: PLEASE PICK IT UP. It's the perfect read for Pride Month, and trust me when I say that it will make you smile.&nbsp;</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b>Royal Rating:</b> </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpZbB2qJHw8/WwGGOAAxALI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/TbtcnZVt-I8dc56xsOfmDvBV7osQZ1SGwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/5%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="534" height="104" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpZbB2qJHw8/WwGGOAAxALI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/TbtcnZVt-I8dc56xsOfmDvBV7osQZ1SGwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/5%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-56815613469030246422018-05-21T13:24:00.001+01:002018-05-21T13:24:36.056+01:00REVIEW: The Girl in the Broken Mirror by Savita Kalhan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IZj2xGAVZ0A/WwGE7GWfgWI/AAAAAAAAECg/FjEj28OnPjIGb2wdPmcIGjxBcQrsODGwgCLcBGAs/s1600/girl%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bbroken%2Bmirror%2B2%2B%2Bjpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1050" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IZj2xGAVZ0A/WwGE7GWfgWI/AAAAAAAAECg/FjEj28OnPjIGb2wdPmcIGjxBcQrsODGwgCLcBGAs/s320/girl%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bbroken%2Bmirror%2B2%2B%2Bjpeg.jpg" width="210" /></a><b>Pages:</b> 288</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Format:</b> Paperback</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Publisher: </b>Troika Books</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Release Date:</b> March 28th 2018</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Topics:</b> Sexual Abuse, Culture</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Buy The Book:</b> <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/The-Girl-in-the-Broken-Mirror-Savita-Kalhan/9781909991637/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction" target="_blank">Book Depository</a>&nbsp;</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span id="freeTextContainer2317962707892151901">&nbsp;</span><span id="freeTextContainer2317962707892151901">Jay's creative writing exercise is to write a fairy tale, to end with 'they lived happily ever after'. But the way her life is panning out she's not sure it will ever reach that stage. A powerful moving gripping story which explores themes of family, loyalty and culture clash but is ultimately about hope and understanding.</span></div></blockquote><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>WARNING: Due to the nature of the story, this review mentions the main character being a victim of rape. Please feel free to skip out on this review if you need to. </b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4I-RyM5nTI/WwGFN0UEmMI/AAAAAAAAEC4/vlw1WnnLa4QY9J0JURFmSIi3Qw_-m8zfwCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BPlot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="316" height="79" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4I-RyM5nTI/WwGFN0UEmMI/AAAAAAAAEC4/vlw1WnnLa4QY9J0JURFmSIi3Qw_-m8zfwCLcBGAs/s200/The%2BPlot.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It's impossible to go into this story expecting a light read. It deals with some seriously tough subjects, and it doesn't shy away from the details. We're shown from the very first chapter that this is going to be a difficult journey, but it's such an important one. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>The Girl in the Broken Mirror</i> deals with the rape of teenager Jay after she and her mother, Neela, are left with no choice but to move in with relatives who follow a much more strict Indian lifestyle than what Jay is used to. Left with no other choice, Jay has to change the way she acts when she's under her aunt's roof. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pjN0UuxlnEE/WwGFNn_pvXI/AAAAAAAAEC0/NDD1t6O3ZgASeYIeeKy2jfTVjcfiWr6MwCEwYBhgL/s1600/The%2BCharacters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="531" height="75" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pjN0UuxlnEE/WwGFNn_pvXI/AAAAAAAAEC0/NDD1t6O3ZgASeYIeeKy2jfTVjcfiWr6MwCEwYBhgL/s320/The%2BCharacters.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Jay is a perfect example of how an ordinary girl with an ordinary life can be thrown into such extreme circumstances. Her life is so seemingly normal until suddenly, it isn't. There was nothing she and her mother could have done to change their circumstances, and I understand why her mother made the decision to live with family members. She thought she was doing what was best for her daughter and had no way of knowing what the outcome would be. Like a lot of horrible things in life, it progressed too quickly and silently to be stopped by those around it. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The relationship between Jay and her mother was a complex one that was tested many times over the course of the story. There was a chapter towards the end in which we got a bit more insight from Neela's point of view, and it was important that we got to see her thought process leading up to her finding out about the attack. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Although Sita was a character who only appeared in the final quarter of the book, she was one of my favourites. Her character was necessary for reminding us of the goodness we can find in the people around us. Something we needed after the harsh occurrences earlier in the story.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y_hvrgEuTMU/WwGFNqZiI2I/AAAAAAAAECw/_bBuhfMEouUmfk7r7ZbS1gYEke1tbUvjQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Reasons%2BTo%2BLove.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="571" height="71" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y_hvrgEuTMU/WwGFNqZiI2I/AAAAAAAAECw/_bBuhfMEouUmfk7r7ZbS1gYEke1tbUvjQCEwYBhgL/s320/Reasons%2BTo%2BLove.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The thing that really stuck out to me about this book was how it covered so much of the story. We were shown the build up to the attack, as well as the aftermath. The YA books I've read in the past that contained the rape of a main character tend not to show as much of the aftermath as I'd like to see. I love it when a story shows that there is a life after horrible attacks like this one, that there is hope for those people to take control of their situation again. Whilst some of the scenes with Jay after the attack were heartbreaking and difficult to read, I love that this book showed us that she had a new chapter in her life beyond the final pages. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXlwn0rLzWg/WwGFNuPpueI/AAAAAAAAECs/6wTZ5HSivnYdJlP3XzMFfDVNg2taWR7DgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Overall%2BThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="613" height="76" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXlwn0rLzWg/WwGFNuPpueI/AAAAAAAAECs/6wTZ5HSivnYdJlP3XzMFfDVNg2taWR7DgCEwYBhgL/s320/Overall%2BThoughts.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This is such a powerful story and an example of some of the horrible situations young women can actually find themselves in. At the start of the book, Jay would never have been able to imagine the attack she was about to be faced with, and yet it happened regardless. It was also an important look into culture and a male orientated world. I'm so grateful to Savita for writing this story because it very much needed to be told. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Royal Rating: </b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpZbB2qJHw8/WwGGOAAxALI/AAAAAAAAEDM/I29OE52zgSQ2peSzzKVH3iZ_lU7DQvMdgCLcBGAs/s1600/5%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="534" height="104" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpZbB2qJHw8/WwGGOAAxALI/AAAAAAAAEDM/I29OE52zgSQ2peSzzKVH3iZ_lU7DQvMdgCLcBGAs/s320/5%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></b></div></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-81454622037923628352018-05-14T06:00:00.000+01:002018-05-14T06:00:13.146+01:00BLOG TOUR: Q&A with Savita Kalhan, author of The Girl in the Broken Mirror<b>Hello, fellow bookworms! Today I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour for <i>The Girl in the Broken Mirror</i> with a Q&amp;A from the writer herself, Savita Kalhan!</b><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vE9LKpJ-Rog/Wvi30e-_2OI/AAAAAAAAEB4/UwXNT0E7mQwzzykXMo3aNk7_pY-gzKlJwCLcBGAs/s1600/37795029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vE9LKpJ-Rog/Wvi30e-_2OI/AAAAAAAAEB4/UwXNT0E7mQwzzykXMo3aNk7_pY-gzKlJwCLcBGAs/s320/37795029.jpg" width="210" /></a>Hi Katie, thank you so much for inviting me here on your blog today! It’s so exciting having The Girl in the Broken Mirror out in the world – and then taking it on a blog tour with amazing bloggers like you!<br /><br /><b>Hi, Savita! Can you tell us a little bit about your novel, The Girl in the Broken Mirror? </b><br />The Girl in the Broken Mirror is about a Jay, 15 year old British Asian girl, who goes from riches to rags, and from a liberal home to a super-strict traditional Indian home where she struggles to fit in. Then she is brutally assaulted by a relative and her life implodes. It’s a story of love and loss, of a girl and her mother, of guilt, of betrayal, but ultimately it’s a story of hope and where help can be found even in the darkest moments of life.<br /><br /><b>Jay is such an interesting character who faces a lot of tough situations, what was it that inspired you to write her story? </b><br />In many ways, I was like Jay. Without going into details, I faced a few of the tough situations in my life that Jay faces in the book. This was a story that I had never read when I was growing up. I didn’t even know of any British Asian writers, and kids like me never saw ourselves in books. I didn’t know that the struggle I was going through was not unique to me – and I’m not just talking about the culture clash, which is a big enough subject on its own.<br /><br />There is also that issue of male patriarchy, which exists in many communities, where boys and men are considered to be better than girls and women. Growing up thinking in that way, whether you are a boy or a girl, is not the way forward.<br /><br />All of these reasons made me want to write Jay’s story for YA readers.<br /><br /><b>The Girl in the Broken Mirror deals with some very serious topics, what sort of research did you do when preparing to write the story? </b><br />Some books require lots of research. This book required very little. I had the background for almost all the story. With the #metoo and #timesup movement, it’s so easy, and horrifying, to find the rape and sexual assault stats. It was really important to me to add the names of all the charities and help lines who can help anyone facing the things that Jay goes through. I don’t want girls going through difficult situations to think they are alone – and it doesn’t matter which community they come from, I’m talking about ALL girls.<br /><br /><b>Why do think Jay's story needed to be told? </b><br />It’s a story that hasn’t been told before. In fact there are very few YA stories that deal with the rape or sexual assault. Anne Cassidy’s No Virgin and Louise O’Neill’s Asking For It are pretty much the only two in UKYA. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was the first book I read about rape – it’s an incredibly moving book and I highly recommend it. As for a story with a young British Asian girl as the protagonist, there were none.<br /><br /> <br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UcUwsNNlUPQ/Wvi3e36efMI/AAAAAAAAEBw/C_Bgz5wp72gr9XzEYJryUHOfpDtV5NbFgCLcBGAs/s1600/woolford%2BA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1086" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UcUwsNNlUPQ/Wvi3e36efMI/AAAAAAAAEBw/C_Bgz5wp72gr9XzEYJryUHOfpDtV5NbFgCLcBGAs/s320/woolford%2BA.jpeg" width="320" /></a><b>What was the most difficult part of the writing process for you, and what was the most rewarding? </b> <br />The Girl in the Broken Mirror was probably the hardest book I’ve ever written. To write about the themes that are in the book without being graphic, without being sensationalist or insincere, or overly sentimental, was hard. Finding the right title of the story was difficult too – there were several working titles before I found the right one for the book.<br /><br />The most rewarding part of the writing process was the final edit and the feedback – that was SO incredibly rewarding! <br /><br /><b>Finally, what do you hope readers will take away from your story? </b><br />I hope it helps readers understand the struggle some teens face living with two cultures – one at home and the other outside.<br /><br />The culture clash struggle is not just confined to Asian kids growing up in two cultures – it’s about all teens facing clashes of conflicting views, ideas, opinions with a different generation. Understanding what it is can help in some way in dealing with it.<br /><br />I would like boys to read the book too as it’s so important for them to know the boundaries, recognise the consequences, the repercussions and the terrible pain of the trauma someone like Jay goes through.<br /><br />Ultimately, I want readers to take hope with them at the end of the story. There is always hope.<br /><br />Thanks so much for having me here, Katie! If your readers want to know anything more about me or The Girl in the Broken Mirror, here’s my website <a href="http://www.savitakalhan.com/">www.savitakalhan.com</a>, or I’m always happy to chat on Twitter <i>@savitakalhan</i><br /><br /><b>A huge thank you to the lovely Savita for stopping by! My review of this powerful story will be posted very soon. Be sure to check out the rest of the wonderful blogs taking part in the tour:</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qGFluHqKs7E/Wvi29StMWHI/AAAAAAAAEBo/Y3JCgQ381i8MYy5PphttP8llWzatzMW0ACLcBGAs/s1600/book%2Bbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="835" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qGFluHqKs7E/Wvi29StMWHI/AAAAAAAAEBo/Y3JCgQ381i8MYy5PphttP8llWzatzMW0ACLcBGAs/s640/book%2Bbanner.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-19009175752555700082018-04-17T13:52:00.000+01:002018-04-17T13:52:09.619+01:00REVIEW: Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIhNewgSivA/WtUM7MXp_tI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/omvzCVTWD80yNfF1QdCRw2Pf29feit9yQCLcBGAs/s1600/27797316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIhNewgSivA/WtUM7MXp_tI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/omvzCVTWD80yNfF1QdCRw2Pf29feit9yQCLcBGAs/s320/27797316.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><b>Pages: </b>384<br /><b>Format: </b>ARC Paperback<br /><b>Publisher: </b>Crown Books<br /><b>Topics:</b> Mystery, Missing People<br /><b>Release Date:</b> January 16th 2018 (US) <br /><b>Buy The Book:</b> <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/Fragments-of-the-Lost-Megan-Miranda/9780399556722/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> - <a href="https://agreatread.co.uk/fragments-of-the-lost-9780241344422/?aff=4" target="_blank">A Great Read</a><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText2601440533268273801">Jessa Whitworth knew she didn't belong in her ex-boyfriend Caleb's room. But she couldn't deny that she was everywhere: in his photos, his neatly folded T-shirts, even the butterfly necklace in his jeans pocket . . . the one she gave him for safe keeping on that day.<br /><br />His mother asked her to pack up his things, even though she blames Jessa for his accident. How could she say no? And maybe, just maybe, it will help her work through the guilt she feels about their final moments together.<br /><br />But as Jessa begins to box up the pieces of Caleb's life, they trigger memories that make Jessa realize their past relationship may not be exactly as she remembered. And she starts to question whether she really knew Caleb at all. <br /><br />Each fragment of his life reveals a new clue that propels Jessa to search for the truth about Caleb's accident. What really happened on the storm-swept bridge?</span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbzVcl093VQ/WtSFQZsYcNI/AAAAAAAAEAs/l2FycwEA7aUDxJd8fKwUsGimgFfgsFu8ACLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BPlot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="316" height="79" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CbzVcl093VQ/WtSFQZsYcNI/AAAAAAAAEAs/l2FycwEA7aUDxJd8fKwUsGimgFfgsFu8ACLcBGAs/s200/The%2BPlot.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Well, this was quite a rollercoaster of a story. With it's <b>twists and turns leading me all over the place</b>, I was never sure exactly which direction it was going to take, leaving me constantly growing suspicious and pointing fingers at almost every character. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Fragments of the Lost</i>takes place after the disappearance of Caleb Evers, and follows his ex-girlfriend Jessa as she clears his room away for his family as they prepare to move. A lot of the story is set within Caleb's bedroom and told through memories that the two of them shared. But the more things Jessa discovers in his room, the more she starts analysing the parts of Caleb's life that she was allowed to see.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I'll be completely honest, at first I thought this book was going to be my cup of tea. Whilst I do love a good thriller, I don't read them too often, and this one didn't manage to draw me in straight away considering it was mostly Jessa's memories of their relationship for the first quarter of the book. But the more Jessa tore apart Caleb's room, <b>the more hooked I became</b>. Instead of getting answers, we're given more mysteries, and Jessa starts to realise that she only got to see a small part of Caleb's complex life.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBsetjSx6pQ/WtSFP9gBPwI/AAAAAAAAEAo/tzYz9CwBDw8WCLQF0kBlsT4oabIOrjxwQCEwYBhgL/s1600/The%2BCharacters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="531" height="75" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBsetjSx6pQ/WtSFP9gBPwI/AAAAAAAAEAo/tzYz9CwBDw8WCLQF0kBlsT4oabIOrjxwQCEwYBhgL/s320/The%2BCharacters.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Jessa was a character who I didn't feel too connected to at the start of the story, but <b>I grew to like her more and more</b>. She was just a normal girl who happened to get swept up into a very complicated world. I enjoyed seeing her interactions with those around her change as the story progressed. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>There wasn't one character who I wasn't suspicious of at some point or another</b>. In fact, for quite a big chunk of the story, I was absolutely convinced that a minor character had something to do with Caleb's disappearance, when it turned out they were actually just a perfectly innocent minor character. I really thought I was cleverly on to something, but I couldn't have been more further from the truth! </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N6yZGk4ddQ8/WtSI-bHcheI/AAAAAAAAEBA/x6GC-SaRSiE9B5OAENWzVgLtX3JA_x00gCLcBGAs/s1600/Overall%2BThoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="613" height="76" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N6yZGk4ddQ8/WtSI-bHcheI/AAAAAAAAEBA/x6GC-SaRSiE9B5OAENWzVgLtX3JA_x00gCLcBGAs/s320/Overall%2BThoughts.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Whilst the overall story isn't scary, <b>there were certain scenes in this that left me chilled</b>. Especially as Jessa investigated parts of Caleb's past. There were moments when I really didn't know who to trust, so I had no idea whether any of the characters were potentially going to bring harm to Jessa, and it definitely had me on edge! That feeling of unease was what kept me turning the pages of this book, and it made for a brilliantly atmospheric read.&nbsp;</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xw-43Q915Is/WtUNbTzdtZI/AAAAAAAAEBY/nuXolx3Exc0czKBCRp7aXaM-ZodfhEdRwCLcBGAs/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="646" height="78" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xw-43Q915Is/WtUNbTzdtZI/AAAAAAAAEBY/nuXolx3Exc0czKBCRp7aXaM-ZodfhEdRwCLcBGAs/s320/4%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-87452846189605943142018-04-02T15:49:00.002+01:002018-04-02T15:49:30.280+01:00EVENT RECAP: An Afternoon With Holly Black<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past few months, you'll probably have noticed a lot of people discussing Holly Black's latest novel, <i>The Cruel Prince</i>. I've been desperate, and I mean <b>desperate</b>, to get my hands on a copy, but my very broke self hasn't been able to purchase any new books lately. So when I saw that the wonderful Waterstones in Liverpool was hosting a competition for a free ticket to Holly's event, including a copy of the book, I hit that retweet button so fast. For once, luck was actually on my side and I WON.<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I can’t believe I won a ticket to <a href="https://twitter.com/hollyblack?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hollyblack</a>’s Liverpool event! I’ve been desperately wanting to read The Cruel Prince but my broke ass hasn’t been able to get a copy. I’m so happy 😭 Huge thank you to the awesome <a href="https://twitter.com/YaLiverpool1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YaLiverpool1</a> for the competition! 💛 <a href="https://t.co/luynPwZFEn">pic.twitter.com/luynPwZFEn</a></div>— Katie Brown (@KatieBookQueen) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieBookQueen/status/977921399128981507?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Literally two hours before the event, I found out on Twitter that I was one of the two winners, so I had an hour to throw some clothes on and make myself look presentable because <b>I WAS ABOUT TO MEET HOLLY BLACK</b>. Somehow I still managed to get to the store super early, and bagged myself a seat at the very front. I always try to arrive early to get front row at these things because my short self would spend the whole time craning to see over not-short people the whole time otherwise. </span></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On my way in, I was given this absolutely gorgeous goodie back containing a copy of the book (!!!!!!!!!) and some very exciting swag, which I had a nosey at whilst waiting for the talk to start.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-wwMYo0DuY/Wr1oh-xYGzI/AAAAAAAAD_w/ANGXU8XPkcwweuOO6kcF2SZNqJmDFWFhACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-wwMYo0DuY/Wr1oh-xYGzI/AAAAAAAAD_w/ANGXU8XPkcwweuOO6kcF2SZNqJmDFWFhACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2902.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The goodie bag from the event!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4gnCYZbXNA/Wr1oqRN_itI/AAAAAAAAD_0/x8FTBKAW_0InF8d0wDVnbbEEQcjMJxMRgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4gnCYZbXNA/Wr1oqRN_itI/AAAAAAAAD_0/x8FTBKAW_0InF8d0wDVnbbEEQcjMJxMRgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2908.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at this beautiful character art!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLKkrLjg5NE/Wr1oq_pwyyI/AAAAAAAAD_4/ZlA--Yos12seqjGzjfziIbb6RVRvJT6GQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PLKkrLjg5NE/Wr1oq_pwyyI/AAAAAAAAD_4/ZlA--Yos12seqjGzjfziIbb6RVRvJT6GQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2909.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black heart lollipops. I'm always down for free food.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n0nluV_mbFU/Wr1oreY-D5I/AAAAAAAAD_8/Zh3LvBROqLEtFIWYyc4ZRoP8o_-sFleYgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n0nluV_mbFU/Wr1oreY-D5I/AAAAAAAAD_8/Zh3LvBROqLEtFIWYyc4ZRoP8o_-sFleYgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An adorable bookmark and a candle? This goodie bag is definitely for me. Also: HELLO SEQUEL TEASER.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPSZ1nBp538/Wr1orka9HiI/AAAAAAAAEAA/K26pa2pz2qY5EYyzoomgQ6_2AL4S8m8ywCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XPSZ1nBp538/Wr1orka9HiI/AAAAAAAAEAA/K26pa2pz2qY5EYyzoomgQ6_2AL4S8m8ywCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2912.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A super cute fairyloot badge!</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Holly kicked off the event in dramatic style with a reading of the prologue from <i>The Cruel Prince</i>. After that, she did a short interview with the host of the afternoon, the wonderful Simon from <a href="https://t.co/zM0uUFMwzg">Savidge Reads</a>, talking about all things Faerie. He questioned her about the story revolving around Jude instead of Vivi, whom the prologue seems to focus on more. Holly told us that whilst Vivi seemed to tick all of the right boxes for a classic YA protagonist, in her mind the story had always been about Jude. She wanted to tell a story about a human growing up in an 'other' world, like a reverse-changeling story. </span></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">After the initial interview, the event was handed over to the audience to ask questions. When quizzed about writing a series, Holly's advice was to be careful not to close too many doors too early on in the story because they might be needed further down the line. She was also asked about how she knew a book would end when there is a sequel, and she confessed that <i>The Cruel Prince</i> had originally supposed to finish at another part. </span></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">One of the final questions of the night was about where she got her folklore when planning her stories set in Faerie. She told us that she read books that contained write-ups of people's encounters with faeries. Whether they're real or not, they contain some fascinating information!</span></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Once the questions were all finished, we were allowed to queue up for the book signing. There was originally someone in front of me in the line, but they left to go and get something, and before I knew it, I was at Holly's table! Not expecting to be first up, I definitely had one of those good old Moments of Panic where I forgot every word that ever existed. My anxious self likes to go over what I'm saying approximately one million times in my head beforehand, so I felt exceptionally <b>Unprepared</b>. Luckily I composed myself enough to tell her that I was super excited to read the book and that I'd seen my fellow bloggers give it so much praise. </span></span></div><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I had such a wonderful afternoon! Huge thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/hollyblack?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hollyblack</a> for being fabulous and to <a href="https://twitter.com/YaLiverpool1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YaLiverpool1</a> for the fantastic event! 💛 <a href="https://t.co/5ZtViXE0gU">pic.twitter.com/5ZtViXE0gU</a></div>— Katie Brown (@KatieBookQueen) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieBookQueen/status/977973318119718912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">And that was my tale from a very unexpected book signing! This was actually the first book event I'd been to in almost two years, since my anxiety prevented me from going to the last signing that I planned to attend. I'm proud that I managed to make it this time and only mildly freaked out. I need to say a huge thank you to the team at Waterstones Liverpool for the fantastic opportunity, and to Holly for a wonderful afternoon. I'm beyond excited to finally read <i>The Cruel Prince</i>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_k/VHXM_z1pmlovbwZX7IoAElWpc2Ar59BoQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="110" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_k/VHXM_z1pmlovbwZX7IoAElWpc2Ar59BoQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" /></a></div></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-89574595269427095582018-03-27T20:44:00.001+01:002018-03-28T23:24:52.550+01:00The Queen of Teen Fiction has a New Look! <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Do you like what I've done with the place? I sure hope so because it's only taken me since the start of 2018 to redecorate. Since I last changed my blog design in 2015, I figured I'd stuck with the same look for long enough to have earned a change. So one of my goals for this year was to work on a new design, and this time I wanted to completely change things up. As you may have noticed, I've lost my little book queen, who has been on my blog for the best part of seven years.&nbsp;</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7zzcxHpDJA/Wrp31fOLUxI/AAAAAAAAD7I/PD56-sTFmtod3Y8lUw8WZJ44bXlAln5PwCLcBGAs/s1600/Favicon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="342" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7zzcxHpDJA/Wrp31fOLUxI/AAAAAAAAD7I/PD56-sTFmtod3Y8lUw8WZJ44bXlAln5PwCLcBGAs/s200/Favicon.png" width="200" /></a></div>When I first started my blog back in 2011, everyone else seemed to have their own vector boy or girl in their header, and I wanted one too! Which is how my queen came to be. But after all these years, I think it's time to give her a rest. As much as I love her, I felt like it was finally time to go for a more simple and minimalist look. <br /><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It certainly hasn't been easy to get this design the way I wanted it. Back when I first started blogging, I had zero knowledge in design. And I mean literally nothing. I was a complete mess. I was also a very poor mess, which meant I couldn't afford to buy any sort of custom design (i still can't). So I had no choice but to try and learn things myself. Despite my hatred of HTML, I'm super proud of how far I've come in being able to handle my own blog design! As well as the new look, I've also decided to try changing up my reviews a little as well, so stay tuned for some new content in the future. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Whilst making this new design, I've made use of so many amazing free resources that I've come across online, so I'm hoping to create a masterlist of useful websites for a blog post on design. If any of you have websites you use to help with your own blogs, please feel free to share them in the comments and I'll include them. Hopefully it can make life a little easier for bloggers who want to create their own designs in the future!<br /><br />There will probably be more than a few teething problems with the new design over the next few weeks. No matter how many times I check things over, something always manages to go wrong. So if you happen to notice anything acting a little strange on my blog, please do let me know so I can (try to) fix it!<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CUVncUneHIs/WrqIRFZDzXI/AAAAAAAAD7s/NNcNxvjZMyIdT4TgV4FPcrEIIORa1lMLwCLcBGAs/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="110" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CUVncUneHIs/WrqIRFZDzXI/AAAAAAAAD7s/NNcNxvjZMyIdT4TgV4FPcrEIIORa1lMLwCLcBGAs/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-39138388635677849032018-03-06T15:39:00.000+00:002018-03-06T15:39:38.775+00:00REVIEW: Tender by Eve Ainsworth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93jExrFDoyA/Wp61f9h7fqI/AAAAAAAAD6s/2gjZ0ja7mcESlh0K09lfQA5yX10Gz1KpgCEwYBhgL/s1600/37423268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93jExrFDoyA/Wp61f9h7fqI/AAAAAAAAD6s/2gjZ0ja7mcESlh0K09lfQA5yX10Gz1KpgCEwYBhgL/s320/37423268.jpg" width="208" /></a><b>Pages:</b> 304<br /><b>Format:</b> Paperback<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic<br /><b>Topics:</b> Realistic Fiction, Illness, Mental Health<br /><b>Release Date: </b>March 1st 2018<br /><b>Buy The Book:</b> <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Tender-Eve-Ainsworth/9781407164304?ref=grid-view&amp;qid=1520328179878&amp;sr=1-4/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> - <a href="https://agreatread.co.uk/tender-9781407164304/?aff=4" target="_blank">A Great Read</a><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Touching on mental health, family, friendship and the pressures that teenage carers face, as author Cat Clarke says, TENDER is a compassionate, compelling and unflinching novel . Marty and Daisy spend their lives pretending. Marty pretends his mum's grip on reality isn't slipping by the day. Daisy pretends her parents aren't exhausting themselves while they look after her incurably ill brother. They both pretend they're fine. But the thing about pretending is, at some point, it has to stop. And then what?&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote><br /><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This story deals with two incredibly difficult living situations for teenagers, Daisy and Marty. Whilst one must deal with the physical battles her family has to face with her brother's muscle wasting disease, the other has to cope with the mental health issues his mother deals with every day. The two contrasting families fight very different things, but somehow Daisy and Marty manage to find common ground in the position their lives have put them both in. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The two main characters are so interesting to read about. Though it's difficult to see them bury their thoughts and feelings away, I'm glad that as readers, we get to see them finally able to share their worries with each other, and eventually open up to those around them as well. So many younger people like Daisy and Marty are facing situations where they have to give up large parts of their lives to care for those around them. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This story, although aimed at teenagers, is also an important tool for showing everyone what young carers have to go through. Both Daisy and Marty feel as though they have to hide their own difficulties because they don't want to make a fuss or cause more problems. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for people genuinely facing situations like this. I'm so glad that this story was able to show the characters realising that it's okay to think about themselves as well. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Daisy and Marty find comfort in each other throughout the story and the small amount of romance between them is sweet and refreshing. Ainsworth manages to perfectly capture the butterfly-filled feelings that spark between them. I also adored the scenes that took place in the group for young carers. If there had been more time within the story, I'd have loved to have gotten to know the characters within the group a little more. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Despite the difficult situations that <i>Tender</i> revolves around, it leaves readers with positive messages that everyone should think about. As the characters learn, we definitely need to start living for the right now because we never know what's going to happen tomorrow. I'm always pleased whenever books include useful information links at the back relating to the subjects covered within the story, which this one did. It's a simple way to provide support and comfort for the readers who might pick up the book whilst struggling with similar situations.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPGDZAstfcc/Wp617jJm0cI/AAAAAAAAD60/DeAzRqUFC_8CKT-LMUQW1P4gTlMCTRNTwCLcBGAs/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="70" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gPGDZAstfcc/Wp617jJm0cI/AAAAAAAAD60/DeAzRqUFC_8CKT-LMUQW1P4gTlMCTRNTwCLcBGAs/s320/4%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">&nbsp;</div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-1048793391995680972018-02-09T10:55:00.000+00:002018-02-09T10:55:18.601+00:00REVIEW: Rookie on Love edited by Tavi Gevinson<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iWKr_NJELJc/Wn13Hwl8o8I/AAAAAAAAD5w/urCzy7Qb_D8TpTM6wm1wKa1CQzZ3uhRXgCLcBGAs/s1600/35952899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iWKr_NJELJc/Wn13Hwl8o8I/AAAAAAAAD5w/urCzy7Qb_D8TpTM6wm1wKa1CQzZ3uhRXgCLcBGAs/s320/35952899.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><b>Pages: </b>288<br /><b></b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Format: </b>Paperback<br /><b></b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Publisher: </b>Razorbill<br /><b></b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Genre: </b>Non-fiction, Anthology</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Release Date: </b>January 2nd 2018<br /><b></b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Buy The Book: </b><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/Rookie-on-Love-Tavi-Gevinson/9780448493992/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><br /></b> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText2336201381933833122">A single-subject anthology about the heart's most powerful emotion, edited by Tavi Gevinson. Featuring exclusive, never-before-seen essays, poems, comics, and interviews from contributors like Jenny Zhang, Emma Straub, Hilton Als, Janet Mock, John Green, Rainbow Rowell, Gabourey Sidibe, Mitski, Alessia Cara, Etgar Keret, Margo Jefferson, Sarah Manguso, Durga Chew-Bose, and many more!</span></blockquote></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This is a book that really does have something to offer to everyone. A collection of works from various writers and artists, <i>Rookie on Love</i> is packed with a variety of recollections, observations, poems, and even comics, regarding the topic of love. Considering I focus so much on reading fiction, it was refreshing to pick this one up and enjoy something different.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Despite the book revolving around love, it's not just focused on romantic love. Whilst there are stories of heartbreak and love gone wrong, it also explores family dynamics, our relationships with our friends, and even the love we have for our pets. With relatable writing throughout, there's bound to be something within these pages that you can relate to a little. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This gorgeously designed book has adorable illustrations throughout, which make it even more special. The comic strip pages were an unexpected surprise that I adored! Especially, OMG, Yay! which focused on small, positive parts of an average day that can make us happy. It's such a cute idea that me smile.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I won't lie, my favourite work within Rookie on Love is <i>Willis,</i> a devotional to dogs. It's only a few pages long, but it really makes you think about the love our pets have for us, and how much their lives revolve around our decisions. It made my emotional, dog-loving self go and give my own dog the biggest of cuddles.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><i>Do Sisters Actually Love Each Other? </i>is an interesting piece about sibling relationships and how they evolve. The fact that it's told via text was interesting and made it even more fun to read. I also loved <i>Binary Planets</i>, in which twins Ogechi and Ugochi discuss their experiences growing up. It was fascinating to take this sort of look into the lives of others.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuX8H5isdxo/Wn19sjRy2UI/AAAAAAAAD6U/fQREnSSx2mg7aZ83UaSwcwmi-ydpkK9dACLcBGAs/s1600/ROL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="1036" height="313" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuX8H5isdxo/Wn19sjRy2UI/AAAAAAAAD6U/fQREnSSx2mg7aZ83UaSwcwmi-ydpkK9dACLcBGAs/s640/ROL.png" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />Another one of my favourites is the conversation between Rainbow Rowell and John Green about writing teen love. It was great to read their thoughts about why they write their love stories the way that they do. Other highlights include a poem by Florence Welch and a piece by Alessia Cara on learning how to love herself first and foremost. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">With such an interesting bunch of pieces from a wonderfully diverse set of contributors, Rookie on Love is the uplifting read that I needed. It's one that can be picked up and delved into anytime, and one with works I'll be sure to go back to and read over again in the future. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F7ynBQNXA1U/WXnUH-iPCaI/AAAAAAAADx8/k56Xb6UkQy8fpDJ52Msm21-5bkFeMw_6ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="69" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F7ynBQNXA1U/WXnUH-iPCaI/AAAAAAAADx8/k56Xb6UkQy8fpDJ52Msm21-5bkFeMw_6ACPcBGAYYCw/s320/4%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><br /></b></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-17609869666136394412018-01-20T16:19:00.000+00:002018-01-20T16:19:49.830+00:007 Books From 2017 <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Finally we've put 2017 behind us and have begun a new year! I'm very much looking forward to the reading year ahead, especially with the new sense of determination I have after my <a href="http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2017/12/looking-back-on-2017.html">not-so-great 2017</a>. But I always like to take the time to reflect on the wonderful books I discovered over the previous year. I did <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYew5aUMeOM">make a video</a> to fully discuss my favourite books from 2017, but for those of you who prefer the good old written word, I've listed them in a blog post, too. So here are my top 7 from 2017!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZMdLLNVHWo/WmNqK_6fUdI/AAAAAAAAD5U/Gl3QBDAai_QlyrgZcLCnHNJkROgydSC4ACLcBGAs/s1600/7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1096" height="411" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZMdLLNVHWo/WmNqK_6fUdI/AAAAAAAAD5U/Gl3QBDAai_QlyrgZcLCnHNJkROgydSC4ACLcBGAs/s640/7.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq5lNmCa3GM/WmNqKgiFTaI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/lBqoKhRJDJEkSV19pKPvN1H03Vdw9S24QCEwYBhgL/s1600/6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1095" height="390" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq5lNmCa3GM/WmNqKgiFTaI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/lBqoKhRJDJEkSV19pKPvN1H03Vdw9S24QCEwYBhgL/s640/6.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3mD5VFYGj6Y/WmNqKVJYsAI/AAAAAAAAD5M/KGAeCeObktkyD7q1xdF-dUoC_WZ7wZpuACEwYBhgL/s1600/5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1095" height="390" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3mD5VFYGj6Y/WmNqKVJYsAI/AAAAAAAAD5M/KGAeCeObktkyD7q1xdF-dUoC_WZ7wZpuACEwYBhgL/s640/5.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qahWw6mzlHE/WmNqKA8ehXI/AAAAAAAAD5I/lqYn53IKsIIlAkwcoCRPM7s2nh0_5mnrgCEwYBhgL/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1096" height="408" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qahWw6mzlHE/WmNqKA8ehXI/AAAAAAAAD5I/lqYn53IKsIIlAkwcoCRPM7s2nh0_5mnrgCEwYBhgL/s640/4.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JlQh3Rhq9fM/WmNqJrQWzGI/AAAAAAAAD5E/MoifDzPeIHcAjVKSupscqPxW-61rYODbgCEwYBhgL/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1097" height="422" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JlQh3Rhq9fM/WmNqJrQWzGI/AAAAAAAAD5E/MoifDzPeIHcAjVKSupscqPxW-61rYODbgCEwYBhgL/s640/3.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRz_oVfaxOs/WmNqJuaoMKI/AAAAAAAAD5A/VH3kbk7BRNgj8RjeEuMtXqyz9BOUcuRtACEwYBhgL/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1099" height="438" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRz_oVfaxOs/WmNqJuaoMKI/AAAAAAAAD5A/VH3kbk7BRNgj8RjeEuMtXqyz9BOUcuRtACEwYBhgL/s640/2.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1105" height="504" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z37NL68iHbw/WmNqJY8Fc-I/AAAAAAAAD48/1kqo2J94zXgsHuHbw43e87aKoWSDJ3R6gCEwYBhgL/s640/1.png" width="640" />&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">What books were you loving in 2017? And what books are you looking forward to in the coming year? Let me know!</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFScJMXVDNg/Vg0yXude90I/AAAAAAAAC54/PVFsghmSvXEmFnvRNJIl5P5HZJjrBM97wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Katie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="144" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFScJMXVDNg/Vg0yXude90I/AAAAAAAAC54/PVFsghmSvXEmFnvRNJIl5P5HZJjrBM97wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Katie.png" /></a></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-85995620743891213232018-01-18T14:02:00.000+00:002018-01-18T14:02:37.160+00:00REVIEW: Shell by Paula Rawsthorne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r367Ur4o-YQ/WmCn23wQNqI/AAAAAAAAD4s/tM2AEd5YRLYbIx80JVfaqtcNYm6PYfMRACLcBGAs/s1600/36581512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r367Ur4o-YQ/WmCn23wQNqI/AAAAAAAAD4s/tM2AEd5YRLYbIx80JVfaqtcNYm6PYfMRACLcBGAs/s320/36581512.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><b>Pages:</b> 416<br /><b>Format: </b>Format<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic<br /><b>Genre:</b> Thriller<br /><b>Release Date:</b> January 4th 2018<br /><b>Buy The Book:</b> <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/Shell-Paula-Rawsthorne/9781407180250/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction">Book Depo</a> - <a href="https://agreatread.co.uk/shell-9781407180250/?aff=4">A Great Read</a><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText13138000372771378743">What if you thought you had died, only to wake up to find that your brain and eyes had been transplanted into someone else's body? <br /><br />When Lucy, a teen diagnosed with terminal cancer wakes up cancer-free, it should be a dream come true. But faced with a life she didn't choose and trapped in a new body, Lucy must face the biggest question of all . . . How far would you go to save the one you love?</span></blockquote><span id="freeText13138000372771378743"><br /></span><br /><b><span id="freeText13138000372771378743">My Thoughts:</span></b><br /><span id="freeText13138000372771378743"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Well, this was quite a wild journey.<i>Shell</i> follows teenager Lucy Burgess, after a doctor successfully gives her a life-changing operation to save her from terminal cancer: a body transplant. Due to the nature of the surgery and the fact that it's not exactly legal, Lucy, now known as Renee, has to keep her new identity a complete secret. With her friends and the rest of her family outside of her parents believing she is dead, Lucy struggles to accept her new body and life. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This book is weird, but in the best possible way. I've read a story before that dealt with a brain transplant, but it was more of a light-hearted take on things, so it was quite something to read a story that delved into the dark side of what it would be like if body transplants were a reality. The few chapters after Lucy first wakes up from the operation are completely <b>chilling</b>. I was easily able to put myself in her shoes and imagine what it would be like to be in that terrifying situation. Her anxiety pours out through the words, making it tense and gripping to read. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>My heart broke </b>for Lucy trying to adjust to her new life as Renee. The realisation of what it means for her, of having to play dead to the people she loves, is such a blow to her once she returns home. Emotions run high in some of those first scenes back at her family home, especially when she comes face-to-face with her beloved pet dog, Arthur. As a dog lover, her scenes with him after her surgery were hard to swallow. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What I particularly liked about this book was the discussion about morals regarding death and how far people would go for life. Cancer didn't give Lucy a choice, but when there was a choice for her regarding her death, her parents took that into their own hands. It's a pretty dark theme but I enjoyed it more than I expected to. It's one of those things that encourages you to think about what you would do in that situation. The doubts that Lucy had towards the end of novel also made her more believable as a character because no matter how much she wanted to do the right thing, obviously fear plays a part at some point. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The final few chapters of this book are so action packed that I literally couldn't put the book down until 2am when I finished it. <b>I GLADLY LOST SLEEP FOR THIS.</b> I'm very glad that I picked this one up when I did though because it's given me my reading mojo back. This was a perfectly thrilling read to start off the new year. </div><span id="freeText13138000372771378743"><br /></span><span id="freeText13138000372771378743"><b>Royal Rating:&nbsp;</b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1gAw-HJE0M/Vg1PjDTv46I/AAAAAAAAC8I/lgBgD5sfeoETKWGog9DuMpOGhMDJTaqCwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="87" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1gAw-HJE0M/Vg1PjDTv46I/AAAAAAAAC8I/lgBgD5sfeoETKWGog9DuMpOGhMDJTaqCwCPcBGAYYCw/s400/4%2BCrowns.png" width="400" /></a></div><span id="freeText13138000372771378743"><b>&nbsp;</b></span>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-87325745831930793102018-01-16T06:00:00.000+00:002018-01-16T06:00:44.130+00:00BLOG TOUR: Guest post from Paula Rawsthorne, author of SHELLHey, bookworms! Today is my stop on the blog tour for SHELL and I'm excited to share with you all this fabulous guest post from the writer herself, Paula Rawsthorne.<br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;"><u>Q. Why and how do you write thrillers?</u></h2><h2><br /></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMABqOzk238/Wl0vfXy2CQI/AAAAAAAAD4c/U3YFjoc1KeUakg0d45BT_1gAQUl7aahzQCLcBGAs/s1600/36581512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iMABqOzk238/Wl0vfXy2CQI/AAAAAAAAD4c/U3YFjoc1KeUakg0d45BT_1gAQUl7aahzQCLcBGAs/s400/36581512.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>Hi Katie,<br /><br />Thanks so much for inviting me onto your blog. I’ve written three YA novels (and I’m feverishly writing my fourth) and if I had to put them in a genre then ‘thrillers’ would definitely be appropriate. However, as with many novels, the characterisation isn’t straightforward. So, for instance, all three novels have a strong psychological element to them. This means that as well as all the twists, turns and action that you’d expect from a thriller, they also delve into what’s happening inside the character’s heads – the mind games that they play with each other, their motivation and the effects of events on their behaviour. Also, just to mash it up even more, both my first novel, The Truth About Celia Frost and particularly my latest SHELL, have an element of science fiction within them as I’m fascinated by what may happen, in the near future, as advances in medicine and science are taking place so rapidly. This also throws-up complex ethical questions which society will have to grapple with and which I enjoy exploring.<br /><br />SHELL is the story of Lucy Burgess, a dying teenager, who is given a body transplant without her prior knowledge or consent. The novel is told entirely from Lucy’s perspective as I wanted the experience to be as immersive as possible for the reader. I hope to make the reader feel what it would be like to be Lucy, trapped inside someone else’s body with all the ensuing physical, emotional and psychological turmoil.<br /><br />I wrote SHELL as a thriller because it’s a great form to write entertaining, gripping stories whilst also allowing you to explore interesting, thought-provoking themes which are integral to the plot and characters. Whether a thriller is read as a pure piece of entertainment or as something deeper that leaves the reader thinking, it can still succeed as a good read.<br /><br />I also chose to writer in this genre because I enjoy the process. Developing the storyline for a psychological thriller is like putting an intricate jigsaw together and this appeals to me. I’m most definitely a ‘Plotter’ and I love working out how the story unfolds and characters develop with all the twists and turns.<br /><br />I’m very old school in the sense that I use a cork board and revision cards to help me work out the plot. My board starts to resemble a police investigation as I reject, swap and insert scenes until I’m satisfied that I’ve got a strong skeleton for the whole story. Only then do I start the actual writing. I find that my storyboard gives me the confidence and freedom to let the narrative and characters take unexpected paths as the plot evolves and takes on a life of its own.<br /><br />Thrillers are the genre I most enjoy reading as well as writing. I love to feel the tension and suspense of a gripping, well written story and I want the author to make my jaw drop with some shocking revelation that I didn’t see coming. However, another winning element to the thriller genre is that, if you do happen to work out the revelation before the reveal, you can feel extremely smug with yourself, so it’s satisfying either way.<br /><br />I hope that SHELL will be enjoyed by readers and maybe even give them food for thought after all, how far would you go to stay alive?<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Paula Rawsthorne is the award-winning author of Blood Tracks and The Truth about Celia Frost. She first found success when she won the BBC National ‘Get Writing’ competition with her prize-winning story read on Radio 4. She has also been a winner of SCBWI’s ‘Undiscovered Voices. She is passionate about enthusing teenagers to get reading and is a writer in residence in a secondary school for the national literacy charity ‘First Story’. SHELL is her third novel for young adults.</blockquote><br />Huge thank you to Paula for stopping by with an awesome post! Be sure to keep an eye out for my review of SHELL later in the week. Also, don't miss out on the other wonderful blogs taking part in the tour:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tPUUivvokk8/Wl0uFi-4hoI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/9VwsyL4MZ0AG5kQJHtcQlOfWa9kjahxIQCLcBGAs/s1600/thumbnail_Shell%2BBlog%2BBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1280" height="380" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tPUUivvokk8/Wl0uFi-4hoI/AAAAAAAAD4Q/9VwsyL4MZ0AG5kQJHtcQlOfWa9kjahxIQCLcBGAs/s640/thumbnail_Shell%2BBlog%2BBanner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-30477732354997415242018-01-04T15:06:00.001+00:002018-03-27T20:51:56.623+01:00REVIEW: Vanilla by Billy Merrell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-npr_yWkzKMc/Wk5TSslrchI/AAAAAAAAD4A/BVbWTxrjwF4Y0vSjLeT7smkXgqFkiFuAACLcBGAs/s1600/34338278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-npr_yWkzKMc/Wk5TSslrchI/AAAAAAAAD4A/BVbWTxrjwF4Y0vSjLeT7smkXgqFkiFuAACLcBGAs/s320/34338278.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pages: </b>320</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Format: </b>Hardback</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Publisher:</b> Scholastic</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Genre: </b>LGBTQ+ Contemporary</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date:</b> November 2nd 2017</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buy The Book: </b><a href="https://agreatread.co.uk/vanilla-9781338100921/?aff=4">A Great Read</a><b> -</b> <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Vanilla-Billy-Merrell/9781338100921?a_aid=queenofteenfiction">Book Depository</a></span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText15585860190608432582">A bold, groundbreaking novel about coming out, coming into your own, and coming apart. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText15585860190608432582">Hunter and Van become boyfriends before they're even teenagers, and stay a couple even when adolescence intervenes. But in high school, conflict arises -- mostly because Hunter is much more comfortable with the sex part of sexual identity. As the two boys start to realize that loving someone doesn't guarantee they will always be with you, they find out more about their own identities -- with Hunter striking out on his own while Van begins to understand his own asexuality.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeText15585860190608432582">In poems that are romantic and poems that are heartbreaking, Vanilla explores all the flavors of the spectrum -- and how romance and love aren't always the same thing.</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br /><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">As someone who is constantly shouting into the void for more books with asexual characters, you can imagine just how excited I was to hear about <i>Vanilla</i>. Focusing on the relationship between Vanilla and his boyfriend, Hunter, this story shows how Vanilla comes to the realisation that he is asexual. Together since middle school, Vanilla and Hunter have had a strong relationship for years, one that people can't help but envy. But when Hunter decides he wants to start moving further with their relationship, Vanilla struggles to explain to his boyfriend how he feels about sex.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not only is this book about a sexuality that really needs more discussion, but it's also told entirely in verse, so it's just beautiful to read. I can't even begin to describe how happy I was with this story. Asexuality is so often overlooked, and so often excluded from LGBTQ+ groups. Thanks to books like this one, more people have the chance to learn what it means to be asexual, and begin to understand it.&nbsp;</span><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">The characters within this story are so rich. Vanilla himself is wonderful. As readers, we get to go on this confusing and difficult journey to discovery along with him. My heart broke for him so many times when he struggled to make Hunter understand what he was feeling. Hunter was a character that had me frustrated, but he was such an important part of showing that people can learn to understand eventually, despite how they initially react to a situation. One of my favourite characters had to be Angel, though. I wasn't expecting their story to have such an impact, considering I only expected it to focus on Vanilla and Hunter, and asexuality. Angel was such an unexpected but welcome part of the story that brought up valid discussions about gender and identity. </span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">It makes me so happy to know that there will be people out there who can relate to this story and the emotions that Vanilla has, not to mention the challenges he has to face. But throughout this book, readers must keep in mind that this is only one story about a person discovering asexuality. No two people go through the exact same experiences, especially not when it comes to something as complex as sexuality. So for any asexual readers, it's fine if you don't relate to Vanilla's story. Everyone has their own path.&nbsp;</span><br /></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm so glad I had the chance to discover this wonderful story, and I only hope that more books like this one come my way very soon. Not only did it open my eyes to a lot of things, but it also upped my interest in reading more verse. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Merrell is working on next. &nbsp;</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64SF31xpFPA/Vm2CoH1DaXI/AAAAAAAADBg/s8IhXoLMB10stWTXwhGHeRjMYSZp6IwxgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/5%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="1076" height="107" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64SF31xpFPA/Vm2CoH1DaXI/AAAAAAAADBg/s8IhXoLMB10stWTXwhGHeRjMYSZp6IwxgCPcBGAYYCw/s400/5%2BCrowns.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-77553842341205835882017-12-31T22:18:00.000+00:002017-12-31T22:18:16.574+00:00Looking Back on 2017 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-han0LbQpnkg/WklgKsDtUNI/AAAAAAAAD3w/zPmKuuH1kAcsu0Li2WjWpqjTqAUcItpBgCLcBGAs/s1600/A%2BLook%2BBook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-han0LbQpnkg/WklgKsDtUNI/AAAAAAAAD3w/zPmKuuH1kAcsu0Li2WjWpqjTqAUcItpBgCLcBGAs/s640/A%2BLook%2BBook.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I'll be completely honest, 2017 has been one of the most draining years for me, both mentally and physically. Along with my mental health deciding to go on a lovely vacation to Downward Spiral, I've had a few other health problems that have combined together to truly kick my backside this year. And it's been exhausting. Because of that, 2017 has also been my <a href="http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2017/11/the-slump.html">worst reading year</a> since I started my blog. Whilst I usually breeze past my reading goal of 50 books with ease, I barely even managed half of that in 2017. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I may not have read much over the past twelve months, but I have discovered some amazing stories along the way. Two of my most important reads have been <b>The Hate U Give</b>, which taught me so much about the everyday racism that exists in our society, and <b>Vanilla</b>, which finally provided me with a wonderful asexual main character. I'm hoping to make a video very soon on my favourite books from 2017, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8XXgHwK0k0/WklccduMbOI/AAAAAAAAD3k/LXg0A5csrOw9bRtYErhUSqzwkDpStNqwQCLcBGAs/s1600/books.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="652" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8XXgHwK0k0/WklccduMbOI/AAAAAAAAD3k/LXg0A5csrOw9bRtYErhUSqzwkDpStNqwQCLcBGAs/s400/books.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">One of my biggest regrets this year is the lack of bookish events I've been able to attend. I usually love going to signings when authors come to my local city because it doesn't happen too often! So whenever I get the chance to meet an author I admire, I go for it. In previous years I managed to pluck up the courage to go to events completely alone, and even ask questions during talks. But this year, my anxiety got the better of me. One of my lowest points was giving up my ticket to event I was really excited for. I was supposed to go to a group author talk and signing which included one of my favourite UKYA writers, Melinda Salisbury, who I've never had the chance to meet before. Despite how much I wanted to go, my anxiety got the better of me and on the day I decided that there was no way I could face going alone. So I ended up staying at home and beating myself up about it. That's one of the things that really sucks about anxiety. Even if you've done something plenty of times before, and you're usually okay with it, you never know when you're going to <i>not</i><span style="font-style: normal;">be okay. That day was one of those times for me. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;">So it's safe to say my blog has taken a huge step back this year. But despite all of that, I have managed to make a few good, bookish memories. My lack of reading meant that I couldn't post reviews very often, so instead of forcing myself to read when I wasn't motivated, I went in search of other blog post ideas. A few months ago I decided I wanted to write about my favourite <a href="http://www.queenofteenfiction.co.uk/2017/12/my-fave-places-to-buy-books-in-liverpool.html">local places to buy books</a>. After weeks of getting up the nerve, it actually got me out of the house, with my camera, asking for permission to photograph pretty bookshops. With all of the setbacks my mental health has caused this year, I was immensely proud of myself for going out there and speaking to strangers for the sake of a blog post! It might not have seemed like much, but to be able to write that post was such a huge deal for me, so I'm allowing myself a little proud moment. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;">In other book related things from this year. YA GIRL FINALLY GOT TO VISIT THE HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">For someone who is constantly too broke to travel further than my nearest city, being able to get up to London and visit the Studio Tour has been a complete impossibility for me. As someone whose life has quite literally been shaped by Harry Potter, it's been devastating for me to not be able to go!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgI1n3vf1_g/WklYRxnkP7I/AAAAAAAAD3A/ATclIDzC6PcNQYJq_vX__5uAsqPhGyj-gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgI1n3vf1_g/WklYRxnkP7I/AAAAAAAAD3A/ATclIDzC6PcNQYJq_vX__5uAsqPhGyj-gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1756.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;">But a couple of weeks ago, my amazing best friend, <a href="https://twitter.com/RacheyRagdoll">Rachel</a> from <a href="http://racheyragdoll.blogspot.co.uk/">Rachel's Really Random Reviews</a>, offered to take me with her on her annual birthday trip to the tour. SO I GOT TO GO. Despite literally having a panic attack the night before, I managed to get through it all. Needless to say I took approximately eight million pictures, so I fully intend to write a blog post about it soon!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_kCr64bmio/WklbYmIaBHI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/5mlFP3A74_oiQgPoqpZt09nWvTrIFrrBwCLcBGAs/s1600/Potter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1455" height="422" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_kCr64bmio/WklbYmIaBHI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/5mlFP3A74_oiQgPoqpZt09nWvTrIFrrBwCLcBGAs/s640/Potter.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ece8MoQKWE/WklbZiFdI8I/AAAAAAAAD3c/d6AXaLoxxFMOJmSqhVw_cBSyWkNyCxMWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="579" height="79" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ece8MoQKWE/WklbZiFdI8I/AAAAAAAAD3c/d6AXaLoxxFMOJmSqhVw_cBSyWkNyCxMWgCEwYBhgL/s320/2018.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;">After the year I've had, I can only hope things get better in 2018. Imagine things actually going my way for once? A wild thought. But there are a few tentative goals that I have in mind. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;">The one thing I want to do most is really get back to my reading. I've hated being so detached from my blog and the book community in general. I'm hoping so much that I'll be able to pick up more books in the months ahead. </span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;">I'd like to work on more original blog posts. I mostly only ever post reviews and blog tour posts, so there isn't much variety. Whilst I love doing all of those things, I like to think there are other ways that I can talk about books too. Hopefully, I can work on doing just that in 2018. </span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;">I'd also love to work on incorporating my photography into my blog some more. Going out and picturing a few places for a blog post has gotten me inspired to do more posts that allow me to mix my love of photography with my passion for books. </span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;">Getting more involved in the blogging community is something I'd love to try over the next year. Despite being around for almost seven years now, I still feel like I haven't really found my </span><i>place</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. Whenever I'm on Twitter, I see so many wonderful bloggers and book lovers who I'd love to chat but my anxious self is too scared to reach out. Everyone seems to have their own friendship groups in their own little corner of the community, and it's hard not to feel like I'm on the outside looking in sometimes. So I'd love to try and get more involved with bloggers in 2018. (Hello lovely bloggers reading this, PLEASE COME AND BE MY FRIEND, I'M NICE I SWEAR. I'm just terrible at establishing communication.)</span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-style: normal;">My final goal is to stop putting pressure on myself with regards to reading. Last year, I was guilty of comparing my blog to others and wishing I was able to find better opportunities. I really need to not let things like that get to me. It shouldn't matter what I read, whether or not I can get the latest book everyone is talking about, whether or not I can go to certain events. I can't change those situations, so why bother focusing so much on them? I need to just focus on doing my own thing and being content with that. </span></li></ul><span style="font-style: normal;">&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal;">After 2017, it's a little difficult to feel optimistic about the coming year, but I'm trying my best. There are so many little things I'm looking forward to, books I'm excited about, design changes I want to learn how to make on my blog. I want to take part in NaNoWriMo again and really throw myself into a story I'm passionate about, regardless of the fact that it will probably never be read by anyone but me.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal;">&nbsp;</span> <br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Thinking back over the year, I've noticed so many book bloggers having a pretty crappy time lately. Bloggers I've loved have gone on hiatus due to a variety of reasons. Now is one of those times when I feel like the community has to pull together more than ever. To my fellow bloggers: STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR BLOG. It should be something you do because you love it. If you feel like it's giving you more stress than enjoyment, don't be afraid to take a break. Focus on yourself first, and then rebuild your motivation later. Your blog will be there for you no matter when you're ready to properly return to it.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;">So, my fellow book lovers, how has 2017 treated you? Tell me your favourite books &amp; memories. Also, what are your goals for 2018, if you have any? What bookish things are you looking forward to? Please feel free to let me know in the comments, or on <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieBookQueen">Twitter</a>!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: normal;">&nbsp;</span><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xt_k053Omg/Vg1PJRZbw6I/AAAAAAAAC74/SbS2HlkHLxki6hr9Lwh8c7TJIEfsFEMjwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Katie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="144" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xt_k053Omg/Vg1PJRZbw6I/AAAAAAAAC74/SbS2HlkHLxki6hr9Lwh8c7TJIEfsFEMjwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Katie.png" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-style: normal;">&nbsp;</span></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-44997436774910756602017-12-09T15:22:00.001+00:002018-03-27T21:32:50.981+01:00My Fave Places to Buy Books in Liverpool<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DesDHKFyeCA/Wiq88L_bIuI/AAAAAAAAD2o/Xj83TV439dI71D1oc-__q7rzkmv5YjmuwCLcBGAs/s1600/Book%2BBuying%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DesDHKFyeCA/Wiq88L_bIuI/AAAAAAAAD2o/Xj83TV439dI71D1oc-__q7rzkmv5YjmuwCLcBGAs/s640/Book%2BBuying%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>With Christmas fast approaching, it's time to remember that there is no better gift than a book. (I mean, there are plenty of other gifts, but the ones I'd prefer these days aren't things that can be bought, like housing, financial stability, equal rights, that kinda thing.) For anyone in or close to the Liverpool area, there are plenty of exciting bookshops around to go adventuring in. Whilst we do have an undeniably amazing Waterstones store, I want to talk about some of my favourite independent bookshops in the city, places that offer discounted and used books for amazing prices.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h3><h2 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>News From Nowhere</b></span></h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">You don't even know how happy I was to find this shop. Never before had I found a place filled with such an amazing range of diverse books. News From Nowhere is a not for profit women's collective that stocks empowering books on all kinds of subjects, as well as encouraging social change.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVfIIVed1I8/WiQmPCe0W9I/AAAAAAAAD1o/Yw_K6oEUku89PQCaMm15TkONNyQeNfBGgCEwYBhgL/s1600/NFN%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WVfIIVed1I8/WiQmPCe0W9I/AAAAAAAAD1o/Yw_K6oEUku89PQCaMm15TkONNyQeNfBGgCEwYBhgL/s640/NFN%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0i4Sp5lGiJ8/WiQmOwuM_FI/AAAAAAAAD1k/wgwLk0CT1osd9vy0xXsv_YoC2vIvPVdJQCEwYBhgL/s1600/NFN%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0i4Sp5lGiJ8/WiQmOwuM_FI/AAAAAAAAD1k/wgwLk0CT1osd9vy0xXsv_YoC2vIvPVdJQCEwYBhgL/s640/NFN%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />You can find books about so many amazing topics on the shelves here! I'm also completely in love with their young adult section because I can usually find specific books I really want to read but can't find anywhere else.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCqeVvrMq_8/WiQmOJBM2iI/AAAAAAAAD1c/ODUSuiOGO1Yws-6Kp2sksryfstaYKS5fwCEwYBhgL/s1600/NFN%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCqeVvrMq_8/WiQmOJBM2iI/AAAAAAAAD1c/ODUSuiOGO1Yws-6Kp2sksryfstaYKS5fwCEwYBhgL/s640/NFN%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It also holds a special place in my heart for being the shop that stocked the collection of short stories I was featured in a few years back! (Me, finding a little story I wrote in an actual shop? That happened.) Be sure to check out <a href="http://newsfromnowhere.org.uk/">their website</a> to read more about the causes they support and their general awesomeness. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><h2 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oxfam</b></span></h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So I'm a little biased because I've been volunteering here for over four years, but it really is one of my absolute favourite places to hunt for and buy books! The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/boldstreetoxfam/">store on Bold Street</a> focuses mostly on vintage clothes, vinyls, and books, so there are a huge amount of amazing reads on sale.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBmUv_1Bzho/WiQmQYMgJdI/AAAAAAAAD2A/0fFPR46_6F4eojXNVxmbycFFF8lcuyicQCEwYBhgL/s1600/O%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oBmUv_1Bzho/WiQmQYMgJdI/AAAAAAAAD2A/0fFPR46_6F4eojXNVxmbycFFF8lcuyicQCEwYBhgL/s640/O%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_hfvuhwI_s/WiQmPRfAH-I/AAAAAAAAD2E/rt8B6mxhwSg9eh_wKJaRudL5VbKd-n87ACEwYBhgL/s1600/O%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T_hfvuhwI_s/WiQmPRfAH-I/AAAAAAAAD2E/rt8B6mxhwSg9eh_wKJaRudL5VbKd-n87ACEwYBhgL/s640/O%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We have all sorts of genres in stock, from fantasy, crime, and contemporary fiction, to art, music, and history. We also have a great reference section, with plenty of education books that would probably cost a small fortune if you were buying them brand new. Obviously, my fave shelves to lurk around are the young adult novels.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWJFP4qosWw/WiQmQBJe26I/AAAAAAAAD2A/FiRdFuq_LOMyveYqFOj5jYXXl7t7tpmAACEwYBhgL/s1600/O%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lWJFP4qosWw/WiQmQBJe26I/AAAAAAAAD2A/FiRdFuq_LOMyveYqFOj5jYXXl7t7tpmAACEwYBhgL/s640/O%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gICjxuEtGxU/WiQmPwdgRKI/AAAAAAAAD2A/g8exj60Oy88Ty7G12ImZrCbvAa1FhBLQACEwYBhgL/s1600/O%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gICjxuEtGxU/WiQmPwdgRKI/AAAAAAAAD2A/g8exj60Oy88Ty7G12ImZrCbvAa1FhBLQACEwYBhgL/s640/O%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RSVaW21sDCo/WiQmQ7EOECI/AAAAAAAAD2A/xq5hLfblJMUB70Ki5ha6ntRJ9G9BxSSRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/O%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RSVaW21sDCo/WiQmQ7EOECI/AAAAAAAAD2A/xq5hLfblJMUB70Ki5ha6ntRJ9G9BxSSRwCEwYBhgL/s640/O%2B5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We've had plenty of new releases donated to the store just a couple of weeks after their release. One of the best bargains I've found was when I was lucky enough to come across the hardback edition of <i>The Art of Being Normal</i> just a week after it first came out. I'd really wanted to read it but couldn't afford a copy, so I was beyond thrilled when I found it for £3.49! If you're in the area, make sure to drop by. We're friendly, I promise!<br /><br /></div><h3><u> </u></h3><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"></h3><h2 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bluecoat Books</b></span></h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I came across this place accidentally last year. It's tucked away inside the <a href="http://www.bluecoatbooks.co.uk/whereAreWe.html">Gostins Building</a> on Hanover St. Since I don't pass by there too often, I never even knew it existed until I actually went inside when I was sheltering from the rain one time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TrcyRejA2b0/WiQmKWas00I/AAAAAAAAD2A/zfJLOoq4al0edpmepfOeebSAbhQFonu7QCEwYBhgL/s1600/BC%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TrcyRejA2b0/WiQmKWas00I/AAAAAAAAD2A/zfJLOoq4al0edpmepfOeebSAbhQFonu7QCEwYBhgL/s640/BC%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">It's a cute little shop with some great deals on books. The selection of classics they have on offer is amazing, and their prices are up to around 40% off retail price a lot of the time! There's also a great children's and YA section too. I have an extra bit of love for this shop because they also have an art supplies section, so I can stock up on books and watercolour necessities at the same time. What more could I want?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RzpiWQJ1f0w/WiQmKrrNsWI/AAAAAAAAD2A/Po-fzNSTifQu0i9RHcCqCGi8k6pfGNoGACEwYBhgL/s1600/BC%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RzpiWQJ1f0w/WiQmKrrNsWI/AAAAAAAAD2A/Po-fzNSTifQu0i9RHcCqCGi8k6pfGNoGACEwYBhgL/s640/BC%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYAOjs6AzOc/WiQmKDSaQnI/AAAAAAAAD2A/WZq12mftvEYMNXxhlboVHlaF7hJ2hUM8wCEwYBhgL/s1600/BC%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYAOjs6AzOc/WiQmKDSaQnI/AAAAAAAAD2A/WZq12mftvEYMNXxhlboVHlaF7hJ2hUM8wCEwYBhgL/s640/BC%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><u><b> </b></u></h3><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"></h3><h2 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Henry Bohn</b></span></h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">My absolute favourite place for vintage books, <a href="http://www.henrybohnbooksliverpool.co.uk/">Henry Bohn</a>, is a cosily small bookshop on London Road. I can get lost in here for hours, browsing through the many shelves and stacks of secondhand books.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIj2KFUh0FE/WiQmLXp-z5I/AAAAAAAAD2A/eKrFjPVbnIsT_opCzNRALpR9hrj0XPSmgCEwYBhgL/s1600/HB%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIj2KFUh0FE/WiQmLXp-z5I/AAAAAAAAD2A/eKrFjPVbnIsT_opCzNRALpR9hrj0XPSmgCEwYBhgL/s640/HB%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">There's a fantastic selection of classic literature, biographies, poetry, and history, along with a children's section and a fantasy corner! Organised isn't the word to describe Henry Bohn, but the lack of order only adds to the charm of the place.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6dBEsYR3_M/WiQmLt45oxI/AAAAAAAAD2A/VfMO8Bl94MwBqOjJcJ_TKz1AIu2gZ7EBQCEwYBhgL/s1600/HB%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6dBEsYR3_M/WiQmLt45oxI/AAAAAAAAD2A/VfMO8Bl94MwBqOjJcJ_TKz1AIu2gZ7EBQCEwYBhgL/s640/HB%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tw8CsgP4_gE/WiQmLzdVezI/AAAAAAAAD2A/lyVtaI_Z1tMGIExay5zZ4vh7Qv0ALThHwCEwYBhgL/s1600/HB%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tw8CsgP4_gE/WiQmLzdVezI/AAAAAAAAD2A/lyVtaI_Z1tMGIExay5zZ4vh7Qv0ALThHwCEwYBhgL/s640/HB%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The majority of the classics I own came from this shop, including my E.M.Forster shelf. They're half falling apart but I love my battered, old copies! It's also one of my favourite places to do a spot of book photography.</div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kkBjUvcu8xE/WiQmMfd0JtI/AAAAAAAAD2A/z2RRwyL7kFE2Ww_52FR8QmA-Cst-yEYiQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Henry%2BBohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kkBjUvcu8xE/WiQmMfd0JtI/AAAAAAAAD2A/z2RRwyL7kFE2Ww_52FR8QmA-Cst-yEYiQCEwYBhgL/s640/Henry%2BBohn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kernaghan Books</b></span></h2><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Part of <a href="http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/gallery/kernaghan-books">The Bluecoat</a>, I stumbled across this shop last year, and I'm so glad I did! Again, this is another shop that focuses mostly on vintage books, but it has something to offer for everyone.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHLTA1k04qU/WiQmM1k8utI/AAAAAAAAD2A/gQUkZ6BT_lsSachCrObJ2mKm1GYQjE9XACEwYBhgL/s1600/KB%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHLTA1k04qU/WiQmM1k8utI/AAAAAAAAD2A/gQUkZ6BT_lsSachCrObJ2mKm1GYQjE9XACEwYBhgL/s640/KB%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What I particularly love about this place is the Penguin Classics shelves. I'm a sucker for an old Penguin. The staff here are super friendly and when I first bought a book here, I had a lovely conversation with the wonderful man who served me. He taught me a thing or two about the publishing of Penguin books back in the day!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8Oo7NZWwXI/WiQmNH74TDI/AAAAAAAAD2A/ix8wYGLBynMAmt5Rzhljz43uFvSFXWtTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/KB%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8Oo7NZWwXI/WiQmNH74TDI/AAAAAAAAD2A/ix8wYGLBynMAmt5Rzhljz43uFvSFXWtTQCEwYBhgL/s640/KB%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">As someone who suffers a lot with anxiety and is often nervous about shopping, I was so happy with the comfortable atmosphere within this shop. There are definitely some hidden treasures on the shelves here.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI4zlOesVdk/WiQmN8RhRAI/AAAAAAAAD2A/bLkXpUcN2uIjSL2zfligfqEZAAb-KThlACEwYBhgL/s1600/KB%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI4zlOesVdk/WiQmN8RhRAI/AAAAAAAAD2A/bLkXpUcN2uIjSL2zfligfqEZAAb-KThlACEwYBhgL/s640/KB%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So, there they are! My personal faves when it comes to book shopping in Liverpool city center. All of these shops offer a great amount of books at low prices, something which I am super grateful for because I am mostly <strike>constantly</strike> broke. There are a few more shops dotted around that I haven't had a chance to visit yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to update this list. Did you enjoy this post? Also, would you be interested in more posts like this one? I don't get to travel much, but there are a few more local places that have great bookshops to talk about! Let me know in the comments.</div><br /><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"></h3><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">What are your favourite places to browse for books in your area?&nbsp;</h3><h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</h3><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_g/xhFO4aTQ4bk32kLFs6r15iGco7SIpBxqACLcBGAs/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="80" data-original-width="110" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Anuw6LjoISM/WrqpR4PkUBI/AAAAAAAAD_g/xhFO4aTQ4bk32kLFs6r15iGco7SIpBxqACLcBGAs/s1600/Smal%2BSig.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-74224902347424917792017-11-20T06:00:00.000+00:002017-11-20T06:00:04.824+00:00BLOG TOUR: Interview with ND Gomes and Review of BLACKBIRD<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello, bookworms! Today is my stop on the blog tour for BLACKBIRD by ND Gomes! I'm excited to share with you this awesome interview with the author herself, as well as my thoughts on the book.</span></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">Can you tell us a little bit about your novel,&nbsp;<i>Blackbird</i>?</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #454545;">Blackbird</span></i><span style="color: #454545;">&nbsp;is a young adult thriller/mystery which follows Alex, her family, her friends and a detective through an investigation into the sudden and brutal disappearance of her older sister. Partially told from her sister’s perspective, the story moves through time to reveal what really happened on the night she disappeared, ultimately exposing secrets her sister would have liked to stay hidden.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">What was it that initially sparked the idea for the story?</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #454545;"><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_1344_1511" role="button" tabindex="0">I read a news story about thousands of blackbirds dropping dead from the sky in a small town in the US in 2010 on New Year’s Eve, and for some reason it fascinated me.</span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #454545;">I’m really drawn to crime stories set in a rural landscape where the characters feel isolated and closed in. I wanted to create that same atmosphere with&nbsp;<i>Blackbird,&nbsp;</i>but also weave in elements from that news story.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">Tell us a bit about your main character, Alex. What do you think readers will like about her?</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #454545;">Alex is someone who doesn’t realise how strong she is until she’s forced out of the shadow of her older, more popular sister.&nbsp;I’m really close to my older sister, so writing their relationship was fairly easy. A lot of their shared memories are my own memories with my sibling.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #454545;">I hope readers will also understand and appreciate the dynamics between Alex and the detective assigned to her sister’s case. Like Alex, he’s also struggling emotionally with the investigation because for him it’s bringing back a painful past he’s trying to forget.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">Alex's sister goes missing in the story. What sort of research did you do before writing about Olivia's disappearance?</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #454545;">I looked into missing persons cases in both the UK and the US to get a sense of timeline, process, and generally for inspiration.&nbsp;I also looked into policing procedurals in Scotland, so I could roughly map out how a missing persons investigation would proceed.&nbsp;Research is a big component to my process,&nbsp;but at the end of the day it’s about how to creatively work that information into the writing to drive the story.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you?</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #454545;">Writing about a landscape I hadn’t yet visited was challenging, because I really wanted to take readers on a journey to a beautifully rural, subarctic island off mainland Scotland. But thankfully I got the opportunity to spend some time out there mid-novel, in the dead of winter when the novel was set, and I could really take in the incredible sites of Orkney, like Maeshowe, and bring that landscape to life in the story.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">What do you hope readers will take away from&nbsp;<i>Blackbird</i>?&nbsp;</span></b><span style="color: #454545;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #454545;">Both of my books&nbsp;<i>Dear Charlie</i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<i>Blackbird</i>&nbsp;have a strong sibling relationship at the core of the story, which I hope readers can relate to. But ultimately, I hope to keep readers engaged and emotionally invested in the story, and in solving the mystery behind Olivia’s disappearance.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><div class="x_MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Huge thanks to ND Gomes for stopping by! Be sure to check out the other blogs on the tour and scroll down for my thoughts on BLACKBIRD.</b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YclpDrMnvAM/WhIXpL1iqeI/AAAAAAAAD0c/_Dqth3zYF1s_myZQcKA8h9ys-0kL1lZZwCLcBGAs/s1600/Blackbird_Blogtour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="440" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YclpDrMnvAM/WhIXpL1iqeI/AAAAAAAAD0c/_Dqth3zYF1s_myZQcKA8h9ys-0kL1lZZwCLcBGAs/s400/Blackbird_Blogtour.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1504032056l/36146365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1504032056l/36146365.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pages: </b>287<br /><b></b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Format: </b>Paperback<br /><b></b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Publisher: </b>HQ Young Adult<br /><b></b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Genre: </b>Crime, Mystery<br /><b></b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Release Date: </b>November 16th 2017<br /><b></b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Buy The Book:&nbsp; </b><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/Blackbird-N-D-Gomes/9780008184889?ref=grid-view&amp;qid=1511134307958&amp;sr=1-1/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction">Book Depository</a><br /><b></b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="freeTextContainer7398088036875897445">My name is Alex. I am fifteen years old, and I don't know where my sister is. Or if she will ever come back.<br /><br />On New Year's Eve 5,000 blackbirds dropped dead. The same day Olivia McCarthy went missing from a small coastal village in Orkney.<br /><br />Now Her younger sister Alex is on a mission to find out just what happened to Olivia. But does she really want to know all the answers?</span>&nbsp;</span></span></div></blockquote><div class="x_MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This story follows Alex through the aftermath of her older sister, Olivia, disappearing. Desperate to find answers, she works with the soon to be retired detective assigned to her case, Birkins. On the tiny island of Orkney, Alex struggles to figure out what happened to her sister, and to come to terms with how her life has changed. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">One of the things that really stood out to me in this story was the honest way in which Alex's grief was written. As a sister myself, some of those scenes were difficult to read, but worded perfectly. I was left utterly heartbroken by some of the memories Alex brought up, happier moments between her and Olivia. The strength and determination that Alex showed throughout the story was one of the things about her characters that made her so brilliant to read about. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The unlikely friendship between Alex and Birkins was sweet, especially in the ways they were able to help each other over the course of the story. Birkins himself was an incredible character, and once I finished the book, I was actually curious to read more about him and the cases he'd dealt with in the past! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The hunt to find out what happened to Olivia kept me gripped. I love stories that I can try and piece together, and this one certainly gave me enough opportunities for that. There were several wrong guesses made before the final reveal, helping to keep everything tense. Those final few chapters had me on edge! The pacing was perfect, and the race against time for Alex made everything feel so much more desperate. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Whilst the majority of <i>Blackbird</i>focused on the actual case, a large part of it was also about the emotions that came from the situation itself. The scenes between Alex and her parents, showing what they were going through, were some of the more powerful moments in this story. I'm glad that it provided such a realistic look into what this situation would be like for families. It may have seemed hopeless for them at the start, but they come to realise that there are ways to work through the dark times when they have each other. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Blackbird </i>is a quick but thrilling read, set in an atmospheric location and filled with interesting characters and conversation. It provided a good blend of YA crime and thriller, something I tend not to read too much of, but highly enjoyed this time around. </div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></span></span></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F7ynBQNXA1U/WXnUH-iPCaI/AAAAAAAADx8/k56Xb6UkQy8fpDJ52Msm21-5bkFeMw_6ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="70" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F7ynBQNXA1U/WXnUH-iPCaI/AAAAAAAADx8/k56Xb6UkQy8fpDJ52Msm21-5bkFeMw_6ACPcBGAYYCw/s320/4%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>&nbsp;</b> </span></span></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-88170221782594093542017-11-10T10:35:00.000+00:002017-11-10T10:35:13.267+00:00REVIEW: Killer Storm by Matt Dickinson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmHkeJlT2KU/WgOX5WYanoI/AAAAAAAAD0M/g33jr4ZKUiEO1UrRhEW1c9ZZ2p0-o5CwgCLcBGAs/s1600/killerstorm_mattdickinson_ofc485px_v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="485" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmHkeJlT2KU/WgOX5WYanoI/AAAAAAAAD0M/g33jr4ZKUiEO1UrRhEW1c9ZZ2p0-o5CwgCLcBGAs/s320/killerstorm_mattdickinson_ofc485px_v2.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><b>Pages:</b> 304<br /><b>Format:</b> Paperback<br /><b>Series: </b>The Everest Files #3<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Shrine Bell<br /><b>Genre: </b>Action, Adventure<br /><b>Release Date: </b>17th August 2017<br /><b>Buy The Book: </b><a href="https://www.v-publishing.co.uk/books/categories/fiction/killer-storm.html">Vertebrate Publishing</a> <br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Teenage climber Ryan Hart is still in Nepal, working at a refugee centre with his Tibetan girlfriend, Tashi. His obsession with summiting Mount Everest is as strong as ever, but a climbing accident puts his plans on hold.<br /><br />As soon as Ryan recovers, he and Tashi journey deep into the Himalaya. Old friends have come back into their lives and invited them on the adventure. On the way they discover disturbing news: Nepal’s summer rains have failed and the country is in chaos. There are riots in the cities. Bandits roam the hills.<br /><br />As they arrive at Base Camp, a violent terrorist attack kicks off. Ryan and his friends are held hostage.<br /><br />Escape is their only option, but all the trails are guarded. They must head for Everest’s deadly slopes. The friends battle against the elements to keep one step ahead of the terror leader as the chase intensifies…<br /><br />Storm clouds gather high on the mountain.<br /><br />The scene is set for the ultimate Everest adventure.</blockquote><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Killer Storm</i> is the third and final book in <i>The Everest Files</i> by Matt Dickinson, and I've been looking forward to seeing how this story would come to an end! From the exciting location, the unique characters, and the gripping way in which the story is told, this series has been one that has really stood out to me recently. It always makes such a refreshing change from the books I usually tend to read. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Killer Storm</i> follows on a year after the events that took place in the previous book, <i>North Face</i>. Ryan has stayed in Nepal with his girlfriend, Tashi, and has spent his time working at a refugee camp for the people of Tibet who are trying to reach safety. Although his university has given him a deadline for coming back and continuing his training to be a vet, his dream of summitting Everest is still luring him in. After reuniting with some old friends, Ryan decides to trek to Base Camp once more before coming to a decision about his future. But a terrorist attack leaves Ryan with only one option, to keep climbing up. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">For Ryan's final journey in this series, not only did we have some interesting new characters to learn about, but we were also given a reunion between characters from the previous books. It was fun and heart-warming to see them all interact for the first time. I love how this series, whilst following Ryan's journey, tells a bunch of individual stories from the different characters, explaining their own journey to the mountain. It helps break the story up a little and keep it exciting. The characters themselves are always fascinating, and you can't help but root for Ryan and those he meets along the way. I also have to mention how happy I am that whilst there were romantic relationships in this series, it has always remained super subtle. I always appreciate it when the romance remains a nice subplot, rather than the main drama within the story! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What's also wonderful about this story is it's commentary on the politics that effect the citizens of Nepal and Tibet. Whilst the situations in this book are fictional, it shines a light on the political unrest that really does take place in these countries. It's remained a strong theme throughout this series, and I feel like I've learned a few things from it along the way. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The conclusion to Ryan's story is a brilliant one, filled with action and emotional moments until the end. I'll definitely miss this bunch of characters! I'm also going to miss the location. Everest is such an exciting place to set a series and the climbing scenes have been perfectly described, transporting you right to the mountain. (Base Camp is a destination on my bucket list and these books have only encouraged it!) I'm so glad I had the chance to read the story of Ryan and his friends. </div><br /><b>Royal Rating:</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64SF31xpFPA/Vm2CoH1DaXI/AAAAAAAADBg/s8IhXoLMB10stWTXwhGHeRjMYSZp6IwxgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/5%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="1076" height="86" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-64SF31xpFPA/Vm2CoH1DaXI/AAAAAAAADBg/s8IhXoLMB10stWTXwhGHeRjMYSZp6IwxgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/5%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-70057069678535293592017-11-01T23:41:00.001+00:002017-11-01T23:41:49.453+00:00The Slump™ <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">As you may have noticed, my blog has been slow lately. Extremely s l o w. Have I lost my passion for blogging? Nope. Am I not enjoying reading as much? Hell no. But there are things that can get in the way sometimes, so I just wanted to take the time to explain why I've been a little absent lately. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Although I don't talk about it very often on my blog, I'm a little more open on social media about mental health, particularly about how I struggle with<b> The Anxiety</b>. This year hasn't exactly been too kind to me in that department, and it's safe to say that my blog has taken a huge step back because of it. I just haven't had the motivation to pick up books and write reviews regularly. It's not that I don't want to read. Because I do. A lot. But sometimes even fictional escapes aren't enough to tempt someone out of a dark place. Some of my most anticipated reads of this year have been sitting on my shelf for months because I haven't been able to get started on them! And so I ended up being faced with the dreaded <b>Reading Slump of 2017</b>. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs8I6uUr-ZE/Wfpa9a66GpI/AAAAAAAADz8/-zpkQvfaIOsE4VgVcxv-oRpBEq6cpfg0wCLcBGAs/s1600/DJI5tadW0AI_pnS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs8I6uUr-ZE/Wfpa9a66GpI/AAAAAAAADz8/-zpkQvfaIOsE4VgVcxv-oRpBEq6cpfg0wCLcBGAs/s400/DJI5tadW0AI_pnS.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, hello ATCS, I will start you soon, I swear</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div>No matter what, reading and blogging are two of my biggest passions, so I never really stop, no matter how long it takes me to get around to each little thing. I really just wanted to say that when it's been quiet around here, please know that it's not me actively not wanting to read or blog. I've just been a little slower at everything recently. But it is getting better! I have a few books that I'm finally starting and I also have a few new ideas for blog posts (yay, productivity). Also, anyone who has sent me emails/books for review lately: I'm getting there, I promise! <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So, yeah. I just wanted to say hi and let you know that I'm still lurking, slowly getting back to my book blogger self. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">ALSO: What is your go-to book to get you out of a reading slump? Please let me know!&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFScJMXVDNg/Vg0yXude90I/AAAAAAAAC54/PVFsghmSvXEmFnvRNJIl5P5HZJjrBM97wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Katie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="88" data-original-width="144" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFScJMXVDNg/Vg0yXude90I/AAAAAAAAC54/PVFsghmSvXEmFnvRNJIl5P5HZJjrBM97wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Katie.png" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-34503107794201139942017-10-17T06:00:00.000+01:002017-10-17T06:00:03.770+01:00BLOG TOUR: Review of No Shame by Anne CassidyHello bookworms! Today is my stop on the blog tour for No Shame by the wonderful Anne Cassidy. You can check out my review of the story below, and be sure to keep an eye out on the other blogs taking part in the tour!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NAjSgCWpHyU/WeUwgMuxWkI/AAAAAAAADzY/mGUMJi-i9tAnj9sKds0vgTT9b4UOQZXuQCLcBGAs/s1600/No%2BShame%2BFinal%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1046" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NAjSgCWpHyU/WeUwgMuxWkI/AAAAAAAADzY/mGUMJi-i9tAnj9sKds0vgTT9b4UOQZXuQCLcBGAs/s320/No%2BShame%2BFinal%2BCover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><b>Pages:</b> 192<br /><b>Format:</b> Paperback<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Hot Key Books<br /><b>Genre:</b> Realistic Fiction<br /><b>Release Date:</b> October 19th 2017<br /><b>Buy The Book:</b> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=x_gr_w_bb?keywords=9781471406782&amp;index=books&amp;linkCode=qs&amp;tag=x_gr_w_bb_uk-21">Amazon</a> <br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText9999534310525070067">The powerful companion to NO VIRGIN.<br /><br />From the author of the critically acclaimed, LOOKING FOR JJ, shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize in 2004 and the Carnegie Medal in 2005.<br /><br />Stacey Woods has been raped and now she has to go through a different ordeal - the court trial. But nothing in life it seems is black and white and life is not always fair or just. Suddenly it seems that she may not be believed and that the man who attacked her may be found not guilty . . . if so Stacey will ned to find a way to rebuild her life again . . .<br /><br />A tautly told and important book, perfect for readers of Asking for It by Louise O'Neill.</span></blockquote><br /><b><span id="freeText9999534310525070067">My Thoughts:</span></b><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><b>Note: This review touches upon the rape of the main character, Stacey.</b></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">After reading <i>No Virgin</i> last year, I was moved by Stacey's story, but I was also a little saddened by the way things had ended. Although we hear how Stacey, a seventeen-year-old girl, was raped by a much older man whose brother had earned her trust and lulled her into a sense of false security, we never got to see the fallout from Stacey deciding to come forward. But then I discovered that there was going to be a sequel that dealt with the court case and the long battle that is trying to get justice. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I'd been looking forward to reading this one because it's topic I don't see much of in YA, and it's something that needs to be discussed openly to provide encouragement to the girls and women who have to face these horrible situations in reality. What I loved about this book is how true the title of No Shame really is. Cassidy gave us the journey of a young woman realising that she was not in the wrong and, whilst she might have been naive, she was in no way to blame for what had happened to her. Not only that, but we were also given characters who didn't want to come forward about rape for their own reasons, and we were allowed to understand why they didn't speak up. This book showed a lot of respect for the personal decisions of victims. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The court case and the process of Stacey trying to get justice was the main focus of this book, and it was written openly and truthfully, without sugar-coating any part of it. And god, did it make me furious at times. To see what levels people stoop to in order to get out of something they're guilty of doing. Was this system fair to Stacey? No it wasn't. But it's the harsh reality that people in her situation can face and I'm grateful that No Shame provided an in-depth look at how that process can go, both good and bad.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Whilst this book was tough to read at times, it's an exceptionally important one. Stacey's emotions were so honest, and her story was powerful. I couldn't help but feel proud of how she managed to deal with everything that was thrown in front of her. She had moments of doubt, but she fought through them and came out stronger. I love that YA stories like this one are out there and, whilst the ending was bittersweet for me, I'm happy that Cassidy told Stacey's story in the way that she did.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Quick Note:</b> I absolutely loved that this book included useful links and contact details for helplines in the back! </div><span id="freeText9999534310525070067">&nbsp;</span><br /><b>Royal Rating:</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2sNj7hVrIg/WDLFfzAEGVI/AAAAAAAADl0/0MuSVvJ6SgwpwQMo-KOxAkrmX2h014ZfwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="70" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2sNj7hVrIg/WDLFfzAEGVI/AAAAAAAADl0/0MuSVvJ6SgwpwQMo-KOxAkrmX2h014ZfwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/4%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnSkcWBpuhQ/WeUyoxaG9ZI/AAAAAAAADzk/qyj13R5IaPckRTQVyqCyidV5emnmklVpwCLcBGAs/s1600/DMHe7GlX4AEBJ7_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="751" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnSkcWBpuhQ/WeUyoxaG9ZI/AAAAAAAADzk/qyj13R5IaPckRTQVyqCyidV5emnmklVpwCLcBGAs/s640/DMHe7GlX4AEBJ7_.jpg" width="467" /></a></div><br />KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-87676942000901971222017-09-20T16:05:00.000+01:002017-09-20T16:05:41.824+01:00THE HARRY POTTER TAGHuge thank you to the wonderful Paige at <a href="https://booksandbelleblog.wordpress.com/">Books and Belle</a> for tagging me to do the Harry Potter tag! Also Rachel at <a href="http://racheyragdoll.blogspot.co.uk/">Rachel's Really Random Reviews</a> who tagged me as well! Let's get started with these questions then...<br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>1. What house are you in? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Story time: Pottermore gave me an identity crisis. The first time I took the Sorting Hat test, I was a Ravenclaw. Finally I had my House. So I became a proud Ravenclaw. My mum knitted me a scarf and everything. But then Pottermore allowed us all to retake the test, which I did. So now I'm a Hufflepuff. It's been a difficult transition because my heart stayed in Ravenclaw for a long time, but I've finally accepted my new Hufflepuff identity.&nbsp;</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--IH4Z8gwGSs/WcKDhXRrLBI/AAAAAAAADzI/mJeXYqVHpLcCp3-bbJYer9NbP20I1grXgCLcBGAs/s1600/DDbEjL1WsAA9igh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--IH4Z8gwGSs/WcKDhXRrLBI/AAAAAAAADzI/mJeXYqVHpLcCp3-bbJYer9NbP20I1grXgCLcBGAs/s320/DDbEjL1WsAA9igh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>2. What is your patronus? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A Marsh Harrier. (I know, I had to Google it too.)</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>3. What is your wand?</b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">10 inch Pear Wood with Unicorn hair. With a Slightly Springy flexibility, apparently. </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>4. What would your boggart be?</b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">*opens filling cabinet filled with piles of notebooks full of fears* There are too many things it could be.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>5. What position would you play in Quidditch? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">None because I'm terrible at any form of sport. Maybe a beater? </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><br /></b></div><b></b><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>6. Would you be a pure blood, half blood or muggle born? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Muggle born, probably.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>7. What job would you want after to have after graduating Hogwarts? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Honestly, I wouldn't ever want to leave Hogwarts, so it's going to have to be a professor. </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>8. Which of the deathly hallows would you choose? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Cloak.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>9. Favourite book? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Prisoner of Azkaban </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>10. Least favourite book? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD ASK ME TO CHOOSE A LEAST FAVOURITE CHILD. If I have to, then I'll go with Chamber of Secrets.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>11. Favourite film? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Goblet of Fire or Half Blood Prince</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>12. Least favourite film? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Chamber of Secrets? (I DO LOVE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, OKAY, I'M JUST TRYING TO PRIORITISE) </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>13. Favourite character? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Hermione, or Harry, or Ron, or Sirius, or Lupin, or-</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>14. Least favourite/most hated character? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">U M B R I D G E</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">(Except in A Very Potter Musical, obviously)</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQ8n0ADx3wU/WcKBp1pgQjI/AAAAAAAADy8/X2TXSW7clGsLgXxiKnAsyX5ReMtIvO0hgCLcBGAs/s1600/tumblr_inline_miugv5oCuX1qz4rgp.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQ8n0ADx3wU/WcKBp1pgQjI/AAAAAAAADy8/X2TXSW7clGsLgXxiKnAsyX5ReMtIvO0hgCLcBGAs/s1600/tumblr_inline_miugv5oCuX1qz4rgp.gif" /></a></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>15. Favourite teacher at Hogwarts? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">McGonagall or Lupin.</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>16. Least favorite teacher at Hogwarts? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">U M B R I D G E</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>17. Do you have any unpopular opinions about the series? </b></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I don't think I do? A lot of the opinions I have, I've seen shared online plenty of times before. What I will say is that I have A LOT of opinions on The Cursed Child. One of the big ones being that I really disliked Rose and thought she was a completely wasted character. Another one being that if we were going to go back in time and speak to characters who had died, could we not have spent time with someone other than Snape? </div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div align="LEFT"><b>18. If you could save one character from the finale battle who would you save? </b></div><div align="LEFT">FRED FRED FRED FRED FRED <i>FRED</i> F R E D <b>FRED</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>F </b></div><b></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>R </b></div><b></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>E </b></div><b></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>D</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">I'm tagging <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristiWhitney">Christi J. Whitney</a> and anyone else who wants to give this tag a go! Here are the questions: </div><ol><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What house are you in? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What is your patronus? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What is your wand? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What would your boggart be? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What position would you play in Quidditch? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Would you be a pure blood, half blood or muggle born? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">What job would you want after to have after graduating Hogwarts? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Which of the deathly hallows would you choose? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Favourite book? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Least favourite book? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Favourite film? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Least favourite film? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Favourite character? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Least favourite/most hated character? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Favourite teacher at Hogwarts? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Least favorite teacher at Hogwarts? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Do you have any unpopular opinions about the series? </div></li><li><div align="LEFT">If you could save one character from the finale battle who would you save? </div></li></ol>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-88674371721425797902017-09-01T12:14:00.000+01:002017-09-08T12:15:31.867+01:00REVIEW: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vByxiVGhHbo/WbJ7OB4OuII/AAAAAAAADys/ZHR7KmuLXkM264Q6pviwddmTk5npT71FwCLcBGAs/s1600/19547856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vByxiVGhHbo/WbJ7OB4OuII/AAAAAAAADys/ZHR7KmuLXkM264Q6pviwddmTk5npT71FwCLcBGAs/s320/19547856.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><b>Pages: </b>303<br /><b>Format:</b> Paperback<br /><b>Publisher:</b> Penguin<br /><b>Genre: </b>Contemporary<br /><b>Release Date: </b>April 7th 2015<br /><b>Buy The Book: </b><a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/Simon-vs-the-Homo-Sapiens-Agend-Becky-Albertalli/9780141356099/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction">Book Depository</a> <br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText5600141235216359129">Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.<br /><br />With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.</span>&nbsp; </blockquote><br /><b>My Thoughts:</b><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">THIS BOOK, GUYS. THIS BOOK. I'm always wary of going into books with a lot of hype surrounding them because it's so easy to end up disappointed. I can't count how many times I've seen this book praised on my Twitter feed, so I was very curious to start reading. <b>And let me tell you, it did not let me down. </b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The story follows Simon, a high school pupil who has started talking to a fellow gay student at the same school online. But Simon doesn't know who the other boy is. They both communicate via false names, Jacques and Blue. Through all of their emails, Simon has gotten to know Blue without actually meeting him in person, and as the story progresses, he is desperate to find out Blue's true identity. Reading this book so late after it's publication, I'm pretty proud of myself that I was still able to go into it without having Blue's character spoiled! <b>It drove me insane in the best kind of way.</b> That element of mystery, the constant search for clues, it all helped make this book such an excited read. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Another thing that makes this book so great is the characters. <b>Simon himself has just the right amount of wit and edge to him that makes him interesting to follow.</b> His thoughts and feelings are written well enough to put the reader in his shoes and see things from his point-of-view. I appreciated the scenes with his friends and the way Simon viewed the difference in his friendships. A character who had me torn throughout this book was Martin. His way of treating Simon made me angry, but the way his story is resolved is an important one. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The relationship between Simon and Blue was just adorable. Honestly, I didn't know how I'd feel about the relationship being built purely through email, but because of the way their emails were written, <b>it worked so perfectly.</b> I couldn't help but root for them. The way they slowly revealed more about their lives and their feelings through their messages was beautiful. I was about as nervous as Simon was when it came to finding out Blue's identity! I did figure who he really was a few chapters before the end thanks to the clues throughout the book, so I had my little moment of triumph when it was revealed. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This story is just full of <b>fun moments and exciting characters</b>, but it also touches upon some more serious and relatable topics as well. There was some particularly great commentary from Simon when he realised that straight and white shouldn't be the default, and I really appreciated little moments like that. I'm so glad I finally got a chance to read this one, and I'm beyond excited for the upcoming movie! </div><br /><b>Royal Rating:</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2sNj7hVrIg/WDLFfzAEGVI/AAAAAAAADl0/0MuSVvJ6SgwpwQMo-KOxAkrmX2h014ZfwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="69" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2sNj7hVrIg/WDLFfzAEGVI/AAAAAAAADl0/0MuSVvJ6SgwpwQMo-KOxAkrmX2h014ZfwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/4%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><b>&nbsp;</b>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-78909497541980758672017-08-14T06:00:00.000+01:002017-08-14T06:00:00.175+01:00BLOG TOUR: Guest Post from Chloe Seager and Review of Editing Emma!<i><b>Hello my fellow booknerds! Today is my stop on the blog tour for Editing Emma. I'm super excited to share this hilarious guest post from Chloe Seager, and my thoughts on her new novel!</b></i><br /><br /><h2><u>Embarrassing Teen Moments </u></h2>Growing up, I had so many embarrassing moments that sometimes, when people ask me, it’s hard to think of just one. My teenage life was basically just one huge blur of embarrassment. But after having a skim through my diaries, I’ve got what is hopefully a cringeworthy enough selection for you to laugh at, and for me to relive the pain.<br /><br /><b>1) The Pen That Wasn’t </b><br />I’ve already spoken about this in public, so, might as well immortalise it on the internet. I’d been partnered with the boy I fancied for a project, and I was So. Excited. Having an excuse to actually meet up with him after school and be within three feet of him was pretty much all I could think about for days. Finally, the moment came… After school one day, we got together. Just me and him, alone, in a dark, dingy classroom. I was convinced this was going to be the moment. He was finally going to see me in a different light, and the exciting, secret after-school kissing sessions were bound to commence immediately. I got my pen and pad out, ready to dazzle with my intellect, wit and thoughtful insights on the project.<br /><br />But after about ten minutes or so, I started to get the feeling we weren’t going to be kissing any time soon. He seemed a bit awkward for one thing, and wouldn’t look me in the eye. Not so uncommon with teenage boys in general, but this guy was usually quite confident and friendly. I started to think, what is it? What’s wrong? Do I have something on my face? And then I clocked it, the ‘pen’ that I’d got out of my bag was not a pen at all.<br /><br />It was a tampon.<br /><br />I bet I looked super intellectual, witty and ready to dazzle with thoughtful insights, poised with that in my hand. I went a deep shade of red and put it away IMMEDIATELY, and he pretended not to see. We both never mentioned it and, quelle surprise, whether it was because of the tampon or not, we never ended up having exciting, secret after-school kissing sessions.<br /><br /><b>2) Photogate </b><br />NB - I’d forgotten about this story, and it’s definitely going in Book 2…<br /><br />My friend and I were bored one Saturday and so started taking photos, posing in our underwear (as you do). We uploaded them to the computer and had lots of fun editing them, being generally narcissistic and not yet realising how stupid we looked etc etc. The next day, my Mum was having a big printer meltdown - she’d accidentally printed out tons of stuff hanging about on our computer, and was screeching about paper wastage. I, of course, superior and bored with her technical issues, said to just turn everything around and put it back in the printer the other way, if she was so worried. <br /><br />I also had to print out an essay that day. (Do you see where this story is going…?)<br /><br />Three days later, my (male) teacher handed me back my essay, blushing and not looking me in the eye. My friend was like, ‘Why is he being so weird?’ Then from across the room, another boy in class shouted, ‘Chloe, what’s that on the back of your essay?’<br /><br />It was, obviously, a picture of me in my underwear. FML.<br /><br /><b>3) House Music Spotlight </b><br />Each year, our school had a ‘house music’ competition, and I somehow got persuaded by my friends that it would be really fun to get involved. God knows how, because I can’t sing, dance or even really move without falling over. That, combined with my apathy towards rehearsals, made it a pretty big disaster. The night of the show rolled up and I remember thinking, can I back out now? But my friends, once again, convinced me that no one would even pay attention to me… I was only part of the chorus, standing at the back, basically in darkness. So I went through with it, and it went fine (or so I thought). Sure, I made lots of mistakes and didn’t know what I was doing AT ALL, but my friends were right… I was at the back, and theoretically should have been in total darkness.<br /><br />Theoretically.<br /><br />But for some bizarre, unknown reason, people in the audience later told me that there was a strange spotlight, shining on one spot at the back… Juuuuust where I was standing. People kept coming over later and congratulating me on my ‘comedic performance,’ and I was all, ‘what???! What are you talking about?’ And they’d be all, ‘oh, weren’t you meant to be lit up, doing it wrong?’ It turns out that EVERYONE could see me, really, really clearly, in my strange little spotlight of humiliation. <br /><br />Here is a picture so you can see what I mean… That is me, at the back there. (Facing the wrong way, obviously).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bx1-0ZzsZsc/WY9-lVUVz8I/AAAAAAAADyA/LNnGTGfdPMQ5mdN4gdJiFXCR6uYhzyxKgCLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2Btpur.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="391" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bx1-0ZzsZsc/WY9-lVUVz8I/AAAAAAAADyA/LNnGTGfdPMQ5mdN4gdJiFXCR6uYhzyxKgCLcBGAs/s320/blog%2Btpur.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Thankfully, age twenty-five, I now realise that none of these things were actually a massive deal. So I can’t dance and everyone saw, so what? And if a tampon actually bothered that guy, then would I have wanted to date him anyway? (Categorically no.) But at the time I was convinced these moments were the worst things that could have ever happened. I think that’s what I hoped Emma would give some other teenage readers - knowledge that they’re not alone in their awkwardness, and the message that ultimately, these things really aren’t worth losing sleep over. <br /><br /><i><b>Huge thank you to Chloe for the fabulous guest post! Be sure to check out the other blogs taking part in the tour this week, and scroll down for my thoughts on Editing Emma!</b></i><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--fWJWFs8p9E/WY-E2Gu6lzI/AAAAAAAADyY/VNRRDge6wfskHJZMNVMvNr-EnhDDOvk6ACLcBGAs/s1600/33973016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--fWJWFs8p9E/WY-E2Gu6lzI/AAAAAAAADyY/VNRRDge6wfskHJZMNVMvNr-EnhDDOvk6ACLcBGAs/s320/33973016.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><b>Pages:</b> 368<br /><b>Format:</b> Paperback<br /><b>Publisher:</b> HQ<br /><b>Genre:</b> Contemporary, Humour <br /><b>Release Date:</b> August 10th 2017<br /><b>Buy The Book:</b> <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/Editing-Emm-Chloe-Seager/9780008220976/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction">Book Depository</a> - <a href="https://agreatread.co.uk/editing-emma-online-you-can-choose-who-you-want-to-be-if-only-real-life-were-so-easy-9780008220976/?aff=4">A Great Read</a><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText7907437094233093375">When sixteen-year-old Emma Nash is ‘ghosted’ by the love of her life Leon Naylor, she does what any normal teenage girl would do…</span><br /><span id="freeText7907437094233093375"><br />Emma spends the summer lurking in her bedroom, avoiding all human contact (and the shower), surrounded by the collection of chewit wrappers she saved from packs Leon gave her, back when he actually acknowledged her existence…<br /><br />But seeing Leon suddenly ‘In a relationship’ on Facebook with the perfect Anna, spurs Emma into action and she embarks on a mission to make positive changes to her life (or ‘edits,’ if you will) and vows to use the internet for more than obsessively stalking Leon’s activities! Instead, she will use it for good and noble causes like finding someone who will actually be nice to her, and recording her findings for the rest of the world to see (i.e. BFF Steph and her mum) on her new Editing Emma blog.<br /><br />But Emma soon discovers her ‘habit’ is harder to break than she first thought – turns out she’s not the only one ‘editing’ herself online (thank you Tinder for finding her mum’s profile, age 35, really?) and that life through an Instagram filter isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. But it could be worse, she could have outed her best friend, accidentally chatted up a 12 year old boy and revealed to the world why Leon Naylor is worth no girl’s time or virginity… oh no wait, that’s exactly what happened…</span></blockquote><br /><span id="freeText7907437094233093375"><b>My Thoughts:</b> </span><br /><span id="freeText7907437094233093375"></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Emma really can't catch a break. This story follows her after Leon, her former unconfirmed boyfriend, decides to start completely ignoring her, and then enters a Facebook official relationship with another girl at their school. To stop the constant thoughts of Leon, Emma decides to use her private blog and the online world to recreate herself. She wants to become the ideal Emma. What follows is <b>a whirlwind of dating disasters and wonderfully cringe-worthy moments</b>. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The reason why I really connected with this book is because it reminded me so much of the stories I used to devour throughout my school years. I adored anything written in a chatty, diary-style way with funny and relatable characters. As I've gotten older, I seem to have discovered less stories like this. Instead I seem to constantly be reading either fantasy or more serious stories. Not that books that deal with serious issues aren't super important because they are, but sometimes you really need a good, funny story in your life. <b>A charming bit of escapism</b>. And that's exactly what <i>Editing Emma</i> is. But it's also a little more grown up that some of the former books written in this sort of style. It's on top of the game when it comes to modern issues and situations that teens go through. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">For me, Emma is just one of those characters that you can't help but love. She's a little more than questionable at times, but everything that she does just adds to her overall charm. The story starts with her explaining her relationship with Leon and the heartbreak she's currently suffering because of him. I'll admit, with her moping about after losing Leon, especially when I didn't like his attitude from what we learn about him, I didn't take to her straight away. But this story had me in fits of giggles in no time. Honestly, I had one of those rare moments where I almost laughed on a train. In public. In front of actual people. During the early morning rush hour. <b>This book is dangerous</b>. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Emma has a group of friends, Steph, Faith, and Gracie, and we get to know more about them as the story unfolds. Their conversations and the moments between them are brilliant. We even get their tweets and texts included, which add another interesting element to the story and it breaks up the blog writing. Whilst the story is told by Emma, I enjoyed getting to learn about her friends through her, especially Faith who, among all of the witty moments, had <b>some important and heartfelt moments that I'm so glad were included</b>. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The various dating disasters that Emma has to face are hilarious. She has some serious guts to go ahead with some of the things that she does, I'll give her that! I don't want to say anything about how it turned out in the end, obviously, but I will say that I was so proud of the final blog post that Emma writes in this book. With such an interesting bunch of characters and so many laugh-out-loud moments, <b><i>Editing Emma</i> is perfect when you need a story to make you smile</b>.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2sNj7hVrIg/WDLFfzAEGVI/AAAAAAAADl0/0MuSVvJ6SgwpwQMo-KOxAkrmX2h014ZfwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="69" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2sNj7hVrIg/WDLFfzAEGVI/AAAAAAAADl0/0MuSVvJ6SgwpwQMo-KOxAkrmX2h014ZfwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/4%2BCrowns.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">&nbsp;</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="freeText7907437094233093375"></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2NBzVqteAw/WY-DATGnCNI/AAAAAAAADyM/MTRt0KmcZTETNDJwSW8x9MIhR-e3v-JpACLcBGAs/s1600/EditingEmma_Blog%2BTour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="440" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2NBzVqteAw/WY-DATGnCNI/AAAAAAAADyM/MTRt0KmcZTETNDJwSW8x9MIhR-e3v-JpACLcBGAs/s400/EditingEmma_Blog%2BTour.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><span id="freeText7907437094233093375"><br /></span>KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-613160051759552364.post-17844791477344050652017-08-03T13:48:00.000+01:002017-08-03T13:48:37.304+01:00REVIEW: Release by Patrick Ness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tnZoWSeq6M/WXnTHkEzBtI/AAAAAAAADxg/b_S5DX0Yha42MWXkX1HOzLCWTgBxon3QQCLcBGAs/s1600/31194576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tnZoWSeq6M/WXnTHkEzBtI/AAAAAAAADxg/b_S5DX0Yha42MWXkX1HOzLCWTgBxon3QQCLcBGAs/s320/31194576.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Pages:</b> 287<br /><b>Format: </b>Paperback<br /><b>Publisher: </b>Walker Books<br /><b>Genre: </b>Contemporary <br /><b>Release Date: </b>May 4th 2017<br /><b>Buy The Book:</b> <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search/Release-Patrick-Ness/9781406377279/?a_aid=queenofteenfiction">Book Depository</a> - <a href="https://agreatread.co.uk/release-9781406331172/?aff=4">A Great Read</a><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span id="freeText1053738439750929954">Inspired by <i>Mrs Dalloway</i> and Judy Blume's <i>Forever</i>, Release is one day in the life of Adam Thorn, 17. It's a big day. Things go wrong. It's intense, and all the while, weirdness approaches...<br /><br />Adam Thorn is having what will turn out to be the most unsettling, difficult day of his life, with relationships fracturing, a harrowing incident at work, and a showdown between this gay teen and his preacher father that changes everything. It's a day of confrontation, running, sex, love, heartbreak, and maybe, just maybe, hope. He won't come out of it unchanged. And all the while, lurking at the edges of the story, something extraordinary and unsettling is on a collision course.</span></blockquote><br /><b><span id="freeText1053738439750929954">My Thoughts:</span></b><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">From the moment this book was announced, I was looking forward to it. A modern retelling of <i>Mrs Dalloway</i>? With elements of <i>Forever</i> by Judy Blume? Sign me up. So it's safe to say I was pathetically excited when the proof arrived at my doorstep from the wonderful people at Walker Books. It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2017, and it really didn't disappoint. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">This story follows Adam over the course of a day. Adam is a gay teenager who has grown up in a strictly Christian household, a harsh reality that is true for many young people. Adam's journey over the course of this one day is incredible. Rooting for him to realise certain things, I felt a sense of pride when he started to decide to take control of certain situations in his life. This story sees him hit a breaking point after holding a lot of emotions in for a long time, and the pay-off is perfect. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Adam is currently in a relationship with Linus, but on the day the story is set, he is preparing to attend the goodbye party of Enzo, a guy he used to think he was in a relationship with, despite Enzo not wanting anyone to know about the two of them. Whilst Adam loves Linus, he is still torn over Enzo and the lack of conclusion from their relationship. Seeing Adam learn about himself and his feelings over the course of the story made for many brilliant moments. I was more than happy with the way things were left by the end of it. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The friendship between Adam and his best friend Angela was everything. So many of the stories I read throw drama between friends to create tension, but even though something threatens to shake up Adam and Angela's relationship, they have nothing but mutual support and understanding for each other instead. There's nothing I love more than reading about friends who are there for one another no matter what happens. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The connections to <i>Mrs Dalloway</i> were super clever, having the book start with Adam in a flower shop, and having him prepare for a big party that evening. There was also the story of Katherine van Leuwen, who was the Septimus of this story. Her ghost has a story told between the chapters, and it adds an interesting fantasy element to the story. Ness did a fantastic job of doing a modern twist on a much loved classic tale. I'm thrilled that one of my most anticipated reads of the year delivered in the best way possible, and Adam is a character I certainly won't be forgetting any time soon.&nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>Royal Rating:</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7ynBQNXA1U/WXnUH-iPCaI/AAAAAAAADxo/T1O8TRZV9SIJfgrNsDv5tLTVFxwgS7HqQCLcBGAs/s1600/4%2BCrowns.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="1166" height="87" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7ynBQNXA1U/WXnUH-iPCaI/AAAAAAAADxo/T1O8TRZV9SIJfgrNsDv5tLTVFxwgS7HqQCLcBGAs/s400/4%2BCrowns.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><br /><br /><br /><br />KatieBookQueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229392158124630427noreply@blogger.com0